Monday, April 8, 2019

Leviticus 14:33-57; Psalm 119:41-72; Mark 5:1-20

Widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats…which Dorcas made…he…presented her alive. Acts 9:39, 41

Dorcas means gazelle. In Hebrew, “gazelle” carries the idea of beauty and glory. Was Dorcas an attractive woman? Physically we are not told. But from a divine perspective she was gloriously beautiful. A heart committed to the welfare of others, particularly the disenfranchised, makes a person truly beautiful. What a precious gift was given to beautiful Dorcas. She was raised from the dead and shown the fruit of her labours—the smiling, tear stained faces of those she had blessed with her kindnesses, their hands literally full of her good works for them. When we are raised, what will we see? Will there be beauty then? —S. McEachern

In the quietness she waited, lines in her face, her hands rough and worn;
Marks of beauty unfading; sacrifice, faithfully borne for her Lord.—S. M.