A Failing Body (Illness) | Rev Katie Montgomery Mears Preaching | 02.01.2026

02.01.26 by Rev. Katie Montgomery Mears
Psalm 107:19-20 and John 5:1-9a

This sermon addresses the profound challenge of living with serious illness, whether as a patient or caregiver. Rev. Katie Montgomery Mears explores how illness acts as a "megaphone" that disrupts our illusions of control and immortality, forcing us to confront our dependence on God. Drawing from the story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda, the message emphasizes that God sees us in our suffering and enters into it with us. While we pray boldly for complete healing, we are called to practice "radical acceptance" of our current circumstances, allowing God to refine us and reveal what truly matters. The sermon offers hope in both present healing and the ultimate promise of new creation, where God will wipe every tear and make all things new.