(Audio)
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
It is good to have those around us who can bring us to Jesus when we ourselves feel unable to draw near to him ourselves. Even if we don't have friends on whom we can rely to fulfill this role we are still not alone. God gives us the angels and saints to be brothers and sisters to insure that we are never so paralyzed that we can't come to Jesus. This, no doubt, is one reason why the Confiteor mentions "all the angels and saints."
"Courage, child, your sins are forgiven."
We probably are much more interested in rising to walk. But Jesus has his priorities straight. Sin was preventing us from moving on our own in our spiritual lives. This is a deeper and more necessary freedom than the ability to move physically. It is the freedom from addiction. It is the freedom to follow Jesus when he calls. It is the freedom to trust in his call even when we don't understand, when it seems like he asking too much.
"Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah.
There you shall offer him up as a burnt offering
on a height that I will point out to you."
This call on Abraham seems to be asking him to sacrifice the very promise God made to give him his hearts desires. It seems to demand of him more than his very self. But Jesus gives the freedom to rise and face even the most demanding call. After all every rising to walk partakes in his own resurrection. And who is Jesus but the lamb whom God himself provided as the sacrifice? He himself becomes our strength and our freedom.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your kindness, because of your truth.
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