Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Stand Up and Walk

And after getting into a boat he crossed the water and came to his own town.
 And just then some people were carrying a paralysed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ Then some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he then said to the paralytic—‘Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.’ And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings. Matthew 9:1-8

I understand what it is like not to be able to walk, to look at the world and the beautiful faces of your children from a horizontal position, and to have to rely on others to take care of daily household and personal tasks. Loving people can often be harsh to people who are sick, and will wonder out loud what the sick person might have done to incur the pain or the illness. I am always grateful for this story of love which finds God willing to restore and forgive - beyond human judgment and understanding, free from the evil that is in human hearts.

Jesus makes a man well who cannot care for himself -a man who has had to rely on the kindness of his family and friends for his every need. He lived in shame. And the religious leaders wanted to add to his injury and pain. But Jesus steps in making him well and forgiven. And that is the word for us today. We are being made well and always forgiven. We are released from the sufferings that bind us by the love of God.

Today I ask God to help me give thanks for my healing and daily forgiveness. May we all live as those who are healed and forgiven. May we lose all the hardness and judgements in our hearts and spend our days sharing God's miraculous love with those in need.

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