According to some ancient traditions, the angel in this story is Raphael, one of three archangels, along with Gabriel and Michael…
John 5: 1 - 9
After this, Jesus went to Jerusalem for a religious festival. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool with five porches; in Hebrew it is called Bethzatha. A large crowd of sick people were lying on the porches—the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed. A man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him lying there, and he knew that the man had been sick for such a long time; so he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
The sick man answered, “Sir, I don't have anyone here to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am trying to get in, somebody else gets there first.”
Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.” 9 Immediately the man got well; he picked up his mat and started walking.
Picture
Todays’ picture is called The Wounded Angel, painted by the Finnish artist Hugo Simberg.
Two healthy boys are carrying the injured girl towards the Blind Girls' School and the Home for Cripples. She clutches a bunch of snowdrops, a symbol of healing and rebirth.
Prayer
Raphael means ‘God is the healer’, so we come to you the God who brings wholeness and healing to all creation. In a world where there is so much suffering it can feel as if you have forgotten this truth, or have grown weary of caring for your creation – yet we dare to hold onto the promises that your desire is for all creation to be made whole once more, and we share your vision of a day when tears are wiped away and death is no more.
In these dark wintry days, we pray for all who suffer, in body, mind or spirit, and pray that they may experience your gentle touch, soothing their hurts and restoring their hope. Amen.