shriveled?
"He addressed the man with the shriveled hand: 'Stand up here in front!' " —Mark 3:3
Is any part of your life shriveled, withered, atrophied? Do you use the power given by your Baptism to evangelize, heal, free, and feed the broken, starving masses? Are you exercising your spiritual muscles, or are they atrophied because of non-use? Jesus wants to heal you. He wants every part of His body and of our bodies and spirits to work.
Perhaps your ability to produce children is atrophied through the shriveling effects of artificial contraception, sterilization, or abortion. Jesus wants every part of your body to work so that every part of His body can work. Jesus calls you to come to Him and stand up in front of Him (Mk 3:3). He plans to undo the shriveling and withering, and use your reproductive system as He wills.
Many other shriveled people, and even Satan himself, do not want you healed. By faith in Jesus, however, "stretch out your hand" (Mk 3:5). Put your whole life, including the shriveled parts of your life, in Jesus' hands. "The man did so and his hand was perfectly restored" (Mk 3:5).
Prayer: Father, straighten out every area of my life.
Promise: Jesus "said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' The man did so and his hand was perfectedly restored." —Mk 3:5
Praise: St. Marianne spent much of her life ministering the love of God and healing care to lepers on the island of Moloka'i, Hawaii.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(For a related teaching on Keep Holy the Lord's Day, order, view, or download our leaflet or order, listen to, or download our CD 45-1 or DVD 45 on our website.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 16, 2018
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