This Gospel story is full of surprises. Imagine – a paralyzed man on a stretcher coming down through your roof. Even Jesus seemed surprised – and amazed. But then, Jesus surprises everyone by saying to the man: “Son, your sins are forgiven."
I’m assuming that the friends were surprised because they were hoping that Jesus would physically heal the man. As for the scribes – they were surprised – but in a negative way as they wondered: who did Jesus think he was?
But Jesus isn’t done surprising people. He demonstrates his authority to forgive sins – something that cannot be seen - by doing something that can be seen – healing the man. Jesus says to the man, “stand up, take your mat and go to your home." And the man immediately stood up, took the mat and left.” Again, everyone was surprised and gave thanks to God.
I like this story in the Gospel of Mark not only because of the many surprises – but also because I think that we can see ourselves in this story. We could be one of the friends – adapting to the challenge of getting their friend in front of Jesus. Or we could be part of the crowd – amazed at the sight of the man coming through the roof and then even more amazed as he walks out healed. We could be one of the scribes – protecting the law and tradition. Or we could be the homeowner wondering: what just happened to my house?!
But today I would like you to first imagine yourself as the one who was paralyzed on the stretcher. We don’t know much him except that he was helpless. He may have heard about Jesus and his healing power. He might have wanted to go see Jesus. But he clearly couldn’t get there on his own. He was completely dependent upon his friends to lift him, to carry him, to adapt and find a way to put him in front of Jesus – even though it meant carrying him up to the top of the house and then digging through the roof and lowering him down to Jesus.
The way that the paralyzed man’s friends brought him to Jesus was surprising and a bit unconventional but Jesus saw it as an act of faith – it was their faith that carried him to Jesus and it was their faith that Jesus commended.
The paralyzed man was completely dependent upon others to get him to Jesus. The way that his friends did this is really unusual - but I wonder – haven’t we all depended upon the faith of someone else?
I’m guessing that you can think of ways in which other people have carried you when you were in need. Maybe for some of you, like for me, it was the faith of your parents and grandparents that brought you to faith and literally carried you to the font to be baptized. For others, maybe it was a neighbor who brought you to Sunday school, or a spouse who started going to church, or someone else who introduced you to Jesus.
As Lutherans, we believe that we all receive the gift of God’s love and grace and are made children of God in baptism not by our own doing – but as the free gift of God. As Martin Luther says in the small catechism, it is the Holy Spirit who calls, gathers and enlightens us and keeps us in the true faith. However, the Holy Spirit doesn’t work alone but engages and works through people of faith as the body of Christ to do God’s work in the world.
As people of faith, we depend upon others to encourage, sustain and help us grow in faith. When you were young, it might have been your Sunday school teacher or a camp counselor who taught you to trust in the word of God. Later, perhaps a Bible study group, choir or a prayer partner nurtured your faith. Or maybe other people in the congregation inspired and encouraged you either by their example or perhaps because of the way they reached out with prayer and care in ordinary ways or in a time of need.
I know that I have been the recipient of ordinary care and prayer from people of faith who, especially during this pandemic, but also throughout my life, have sent a card or spoken a word of encouragement or care. In addition, I also know that I have been dependent upon the faith of others when I was in great need and unable to help myself.
I will never forget the feeling of helplessness that I experienced after being in a car accident and not even being able to tell the nurse that I wanted a drink of water. I was flat on my back – and also suffering from a head injury. Like the paralyzed man, I could do nothing for myself – but like his friends, my family didn’t give up. They took me out of the hospital and away from the doctors that were ready to put me in a care center and throw away the key. Instead, they brought me to another hospital and another doctor who had some other ideas. Towards the end of my month-long stay in that hospital, this doctor came into my room and asked me if I had any questions. I had tons but could only say to him, “Am I going to be ok?” He answered, “Yes, because you have faith.” And then he left. I held onto that prognosis and trusted in that promise. But as I look back, I realize that it is not only because I had faith but also because my family had faith and he did too. It turns out that he was a missionary doctor – and knew quite a bit not only about medicine but also about faith. Faith makes a difference.
Sometimes I have been – and you have been -- the one who, like the paralyzed man - is in need and has been lifted and carried to Christ Jesus – sometimes literally and at other times in prayer. And sometimes the Holy Spirit calls upon me and you to do God’s work in the world around us. For example, on my block, one of my neighbors has just been diagnosed with cancer. Another neighbor immediately organized a meal-train to help care for their daily needs.
Brothers and sisters – friends in Christ – Our faith – YOUR faith -- makes a difference not only for you – but also for your family, your friends, your neighbors and everyone else whose life you touch. Your faith, active in your life, is the vehicle God’s YES to be proclaimed.
This has never been more evident than in this pandemic time in which so much of our ordinary life has been different. I have noticed the many ways that you, people of Faith-Lilac Way, and friends and neighbors have responded in faith to care for others. Some of you have been making phone calls to those who have been isolated in care centers. Others of you have sent notes. All of you have been praying. These are just a few of the ways that I know that you reach out and care for one another – and the community.
Brothers and sisters, friends in Christ, your faith makes a difference to you and to the world around you. May you be blessed with the faith and courage to both carry others and their cares to Jesus and the grace to receive the care and kindness of others in Jesus name. Amen.