10 December 2018 - carry overs

Today's Readings (Audio)

And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed;
they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence.

None of us come before the LORD on by solely our own strength. Even when it seems that way historically we know that there were countless prayers of strangers that helped us. We know that angels fought to give us the chance at freedom. Indeed the angelic hosts and the prayers of the Church are also vital to sustain us, lest we be overcome. We don't like to think of ourselves as spiritually paralyzed. But God delights to involve us in the salvation of our brothers and sisters. He does not mind that we ourselves are too weak to come before him as long as we get there in the end. And this he provides for with the vast cloud of witnesses who surround us, the angelic hosts that protect us, and the prayers of others that sustain us.

None of us can now say that we cannot come before Jesus. We may be too weak on our own, but the path has been opened for us. We hear the words of the prophet giving us the strength we do not have on our own.

Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!

All of us are responsible for our brothers and sisters. We cannot disclaim responsibility for anyone. Like the men who brought the paralytic we must bring all we can before Jesus for healing and for forgiveness. And we may need to be creative and finding a way to reach him.

But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd,
they went up on the roof
and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles
into the middle in front of Jesus. 

Jesus is not only a healer. He is not one among many. He alone, being God, can forgive sins. Because sin is the most fundamental problem of our world he is the only one who can transform it. He alone can turn the desert of our world into verdant land. He alone turns the burning sands into pools "and the thirsty ground, springs of water". He himself clears the highway, "called the holy way". He himself gives us the strength and the wisdom to follow it.

They will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.

Jesus may seem distant but he is not. There are so many people fighting to bring us near to him. And they will succeed unless we frustrate them with obstinate hearts which refuse to be carried.

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD –for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.