Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families March 4–10. Matthew 8–9; Mark 2–5: ‘Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole’

Michaelangelo "Creation of Adam"

Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families

March 4–10. Matthew 8–9; Mark 2–5: ‘Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole’

One thought I had coming off our discussion in Sunday School on judging righteously was that it is all tied into the gift and power of discernment. If we pray for that gift as we review a situation or a person’s action, then that will help us/me know how to react righteously. I hope that makes sense.

The beautiful painting depicted above was created for the chapel at Magdala, Israel by Daniel Cariola. When I first saw a print of it, not knowing where it came from, I wondered whether it had to do with Isaiah—“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7). But as I looked closer I saw the hand among the feet and I understood that it showed the woman with the issue of blood touching the hem of the Savior’s robe. And that of course features in this week’s reading. But it also now puts me inexorably in mind of Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel masterpiece where God—Elohim—is stretching out his hand to Adam, presumably putting in him the “breath of life.” God first reaches out to us so that we can reach out to Him. I don’t think the comparison is coincidental. 

There is a fairly though-provoking video in the Gospel Library or lds.org version of this manual entitled “Everyday Example: When Beliefs Are Questioned” that has to do with how we emulate the Savior in dealing with confrontation regarding our beliefs. I think of the time when He cleared the temple—Christ was not above taking action, but He did it to end confrontation, not foment it. 

One more thing for me to think about this week is spiritual healing. Do we concentrate on our physical discomforts and neglect our spiritual sore patches? I love the story in Mark 2 when the man “sick of the palsy” was brought to Him and the more important, and first thing the Savior did was to forgive him of his sins. That caused a furor among the Pharisees, who accused Him of blasphemy. His answer to them? “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” Thereby healing him physically. Spiritual and physical healing comes from our Savior. 

Encounter by Daniel Cariola