Today’s readings:
Friday, June 27
Morning: Pss. 130; 148
Evening: Pss. 32; 139
Num. 20:1–13
Rom. 5:12–21
Matt. 20:29–34
Matt. 20:29–34 – Two Blind man receive sight
Here is a bleak reality: need is all around us and at times it overwhelms who we are. I know we have heard over and over again that we need to pray, and have faith as we face these challenges. I also know that as people of faith we sometimes fail at the first requirement of prayer life: to actually ask, to pray for the things we need.
How many times did that happened to you? How many times you felt the need to just break down and cry out to God in your need? How many times you felt the need to express how you really feel before God? And how many times those prayers are left unsaid?
For me that happens more often that I would like, when I am hurt, when my spirit is crushed it’s easier for me to close up, to keep to myself and try to make things work rather than turning my thoughts and heart to God. It’s something I cannot explain, but it just happens. And then I read the story of the two blind man, that understand the meaning calling out and not be shy in their requests.
If there is one thing we learn today, it has to do with Christ being close to us, ready to respond and help. No matter of the condition we are in, no matter of the things going on, the hurt or pain in our lives, Christ is near and ready to restore us.
So today, be bold, open yourself up to God, and don’t be shy in pouring your heart out, talking to God honestly about what you are in need. You might be surprised about what can happen.
Blessings,
Bo M.
First Pres Joliet 
June 27, 2014 at 6:40 am
Jesus brought sight to the blind. How many times am I blinded by things that shouldn’t be important in my life. I would guess every day my prioraties in life get blinded by one thing or another. I pray that Christ opens my heart, and eyes to see clearly…
June 27, 2014 at 7:05 am
We see in this passage that it was so easy for these men to ask Jesus. Why is it so hard for us sometimes? Jesus will meet us where we are. He says “Come to me.”
As I read through Ps 130, I also read about crying out to the Lord and about how He forgives our iniquities, even though we don’t deserve it. This is a continuation of yesterday as is today’s other reading from Romans 5. I especially liked vs. 18.
Have a blessed day. I’m off to VBS soon to feed 200 kids and many adults root beer floats. 🙂
(Craig R, don’t forget your ice cream scoop)
June 27, 2014 at 8:04 am
I see he has the inside scoop.
June 27, 2014 at 7:31 am
I do love the Psalms! The verse that resonates with me, here at the end of an exhausting/exhilarating week of VBS, plus hyped-up grandkids most days and nights, is Psalm 130:8—“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever—“. I may nor often realize God’s purpose, but how good to be reminded that each day DOES serve that purpose. God is good—ALL the time!!
June 27, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Although I believe without a doubt that this is a real physical miracle that Jesus performed, I think an underlying thing here too is a metaphorical healing of the blind too. Just like Jesus restored physical sight to these blind men, he also restores sight of God through our faith in Him as well. We can find our way through this challenging world through our faith in Jesus, which restores our souls and brings us back to God.
June 28, 2014 at 11:29 am
Wow! Seems like something worked! Hallelujah! It says I’m commenting in my account here, too. So far, so good. The real test now will come when it’s a new day, another post. Will the account still love me, or kick me out again? Whatever the future holds, it’s all good–in God’s hands, right. And I do want to tell everyone, esp. the pastors, that I’m loving the process offered in the lectionary to experience 5 passages from throughout Scripture every day, realizing how amazingly all of the Bible works together to guide us to a greater comprehension of who God is and how he has worked with his creation all through the centuries. I’ve even downloaded the app for “Daily Prayer” to my iphone and tablet, so I can just click and find all the readings and prayers in the palm of my hand instantly! What could be better?
June 28, 2014 at 12:11 pm
I love technology 🙂
June 28, 2014 at 11:18 am
This is a test. I’ve been frustrated that my comments were coming up “‘anonymous”. So I logged in, changed my profile and password. Now it appears that I’m ok, but we’ll see. I’m curious if it makes a difference to comment directly into the comment box, or to go into “the reply box. Here goes this attempt in “comment”.