Mark 9:35-36 ~ Healing

 

Mark 9:35-36

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages,

 teaching in their synagogues 

and 

Proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom 

and 

Healing every disease 

and 

every affliction. 

When He saw the crowds,

He had compassion for them, 

because 

they were harassed and helpless, 

like sheep without a shepherd.

Today, was a day I thought of both of my parents. I often dream I'm going somewhere with my mother and one of my sons or Edward.  My mom went from complaining about things I thought she was too involved about complaining. And the next situation was Intensive Care, being admitted with Double Pneumonia. My brother sat with her full-time, then Edward and I sat with her full-time. 2016.

I learned about respiratory arrest. And codes. 

I found out (after a week of my brother sitting, and then we were sitting), we were sitting in a room marked quarantine, health risk and wear masks at all times. We had a lot to say about this. 

Pneumonia

We could go into a lot of detail about Pneumonia, but suffice to say hearing about Pope Francis makes me remember this again. 

My mother was 83 years old at the time. 

The most urgent thing beyond respiratory arrest was Hospice. Hospice decided when she had respiratory arrest, it was time to place her, with the calm and serene 8th floor, where Hospice removes oxygen, antibiotics and gives a little water, where we wait for the passing of the elderly one.  We were utterly appalled. My mother's boyfriend, our neighbor since I was four years old, my husband and me.  We were all speechless.  And Edward burst into tears like a child.

Jack turned to me and said they want a response. NO. No, we are not doing that to my mother, who ate a good breakfast.  Finally, we had a hospital meeting because they decided 3 more times to press the issue.  Then they ejected her to secondary care. Presbyterian Rehabilitation had never had a ventilator patient before, but they stepped up to the plate for 4 more months. My mom when home in a wheelchair. To do therapy and begin going out to eat with her friends at lunch again with a full-time companion.

The Pope is having a different experience. 

I'd say Jesus is having compassion on him. Pope Francis, the Sheep of the Lord. He insisted, the doctors tell the truth about his illness. When they said he had kidney difficult, I assumed the worst.  Wow. 

Yes, Pope Francis is in guarded condition. But Wow.  And he is doing some work for the Church at age 88. Having a good sleep, well, my mom did too.  But she certainly did not do any work and had a hard time signing documentation. 

Pope Francis has garnered some criticism in a sharply divided era.  

I'm sure I have yelled like I've seen Italian men yell at him. Nevertheless, when we all went home for the Pandemic, I watched the Vatican on Television.  Yes, in Italian, we have all had some Romance Language lessons somewhere. And I knew what the “Daily Liturgy” was. Pick out a few known words, and the serenity was a week of peace in our hearts. The singing in a historic empty, ish Vatican.  

The Comfort of the Eternal. 

The time we were seeing pandemic, had reached 28% mortality. People singing in flats to one another. Cheering the Hospital workers. The might of the Leaders really having every meeting in the world to take care of all of us. We had yet to see the Riots.  We were seeing the serious portion of prayer and Leadership.

During the Pandemic, I learned this the 2nd Vatican, had never had a massive Crucifix on the Vatican Altar.  Never a massive Cross.  Pope Francis said this is unconscionable.  Immediately interviewed artist carvers and explained we would see the wounds on Jesus and the Blood of His covering us.  The Vatican has been in the same location since Peter was killed and buried in the Foreigner's Graveyard in 66 A.D. Open for Worship since 375 A.D.  And torn down and rebuilt in 1420 A.D. Now, there is a Crucifix.  To the protests of the 'traditionalists' saying the massive Vatican is worship.  Pope Francis wasn't impressed with the dissention. And today, Jesus is shown, in truth, as His Love for the people He shepherded in many millenniums.

Then the Pope seemed to ride the tide of the hysteria we have witnessed and lived in the malaise after the worldwide riots.  I wasn't pleased. We had friends who went by invitation to a Pope Audience and the Pope didn't speak. I thought rude remarks.  And an interview with Bill Clinton for 2 hours and Bill Clinton brought up Scripture.  I thought the Pandemic had eaten the Pope.

Suddenly, the Pope knew about the UN declaring the USA border as the most deadly border on earth. And children being coerced, in sexual discussions and practices and surgeries too advanced for their years of life.   The Pope did not just speak up, the Pope ROARED.  And many finally understood, where Good would Stand.  Sermons began about choosing the Good. Standing up for the Righteousness of God Himself.

I am glad to hear, with a full heart, that Pope Francis has the Blessing of God in this struggle at age 88 years of Life.

So many prayers worldwide.

Sent like Noah sent a dove.

Today continued to find the loss of Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their German Shepherd. We all hold people in our hearts, we don't actually know. I had really, super enjoyed Gene Hackman because in his middle years he looked and had expressions like my own father.

To hear of his death sounded like a complete nightmare.  And I had to sit down and look at all the disclosed information. My dad had taken his own life, many years ago, but I had to sit down and cry like a child.

In the Preliminary Information ....

I was comforted to find out, they thought Gene had been very frail at 95 years and might have fallen over to his death.  To be placed upright again in a chair. Then a heater moved to the bathroom, where Betsy Arakawa was found surrounded by pills and a prescription. Their last photograph together was of a man in tender, fragile old age being cared for by his wife. His wife, Betsy, who looked entirely depressed, saddened and drained to see her husband showing signs he was not to be with us much longer. 

We had a wonderful Springer Spaniel, who in a moment of extreme panic over some childhood thing, locked himself in our bathroom.  And required hours of this and that how to unlock the door.  

To be faced with the death of a loved one, can be a terrifying thing. 

I will hold this sadness in my heart. I pray for Betsy.

Where there is Life, there is Hope. 

 Hope.  With her talented piano, she could have told us more about Gene. We would have wanted to hear.  Life and Hope. We have to live this to find this.

No one wanted this for them. Wouldn't have chosen this for them.

Life is Hope.  Even when the children are now in old age. Even when the dog locks himself in a closet. When the day looks as bleak as bleak can be.

Life is Hope.

We would pick Jesus' compassion over the whole situation.

We pray 

to rise

 to shine for Your Glory.

In the Name of Jesus Christ,

Your Son.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus