Saturday, January 23, 2021               (today’s lectionary)
Healing in the tabernacle
All you peoples, clap your hands. Shout unto God with a voice of triumph. Sing praise to God, sing praise!
When Miles and Jasper arrive in the morning, we get into a circle and sing a simple song. Yesterday we sang “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” This is one of our favorite songs. Then we count together through the days of the month up till now, and Jasper or Miles puts a sticker on this particular day that the Lord has made.
Finally Miles picks one of two clipboards and brings it to the circle. One clipboard has pictures of exercises and stretches, the other is a list of the names of God. This time he chose the names of God list, and the name for the day was El Shaddai, which means “God Almighty.”
A tabernacle was constructed, the outer one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering. This is called the Holy Place. Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies.
After circle we plan something to do, but usually the plan changes several times. But the last couple of days with the boys have been marked by tools and fixing things, and yesterday … building the beginnings of their castle, their tent, their tabernacle. We bought a small upright freezer and kept the box. Tomorrow we’re hoping to cut out a couple of windows and make a door. There is plenty of room in there for them to play, eat, take naps, and pray. I bet there is even enough room in there for Jesus.
Jesus came with the disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat.
Can you imagine a hole cut in the roof of the house of Jasper and Miles? They look up and see four men lowering a stretcher into the inner sanctum of their tabernacle. What should they do? Make way for Jesus! But it was bad enough that Jesus healed on the sabbath; will he heal now even in their tabernacle?
How can Jesus not heal, right here and right now? Earlier in the morning, we held hands and prayed for their mom and her fellow teacher, and Miles prayed for … what did he say? “For Mamo and healing for everybody.”
Miles and Jasper settle down, and they pretend to go to sleep. But while the lullaby music plays, there is a light glowing in the back of their tent. I am sure it’s Jesus, shining heaven’s light into their lives.
The Blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, will cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.
(Hebrews 9, Psalm 47, Acts 16, Mark 3)
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