أحد شفاء المخلع

اعداد وجمع/الياس بجاني

14 آذار/2010

إنجيل القدّيس مرقس 2/1-12

وبَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ عَادَ يَسُوعُ إِلى كَفَرْنَاحُوم. وسَمِعَ النَّاسُ أَنَّهُ في البَيْت. فتَجَمَّعَ عَدَدٌ كَبيرٌ مِنْهُم حَتَّى غَصَّ بِهِمِ المَكَان، ولَمْ يَبْقَ مَوْضِعٌ لأَحَدٍ ولا عِنْدَ البَاب. وكانَ يُخَاطِبُهُم بِكَلِمَةِ الله.

فأَتَوْهُ بِمُخَلَّعٍ يَحْمِلُهُ أَرْبَعَةُ رِجَال. وبِسَبَبِ الجَمْعِ لَمْ يَسْتَطِيعُوا الوُصُولَ بِهِ إِلى يَسُوع، فكَشَفُوا السَّقْفَ فَوْقَ يَسُوع، ونَبَشُوه، ودَلَّوا الفِرَاشَ الَّذي كانَ المُخَلَّعُ مَطْرُوحًا عَلَيْه. ورَأَى يَسُوعُ إِيْمَانَهُم، فقَالَ لِلْمُخَلَّع: «يَا ٱبْني، مَغْفُورَةٌ لَكَ خطَايَاك!». وكانَ بَعْضُ الكَتَبَةِ جَالِسِينَ هُنَاكَ يُفَكِّرُونَ في قُلُوبِهِم: لِمَاذَا يَتَكَلَّمُ هذَا الرَّجُلُ هكَذَا؟ إِنَّهُ يُجَدِّف! مَنْ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ الخَطَايَا إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ؟. وفي الحَالِ عَرَفَ يَسُوعُ بِرُوحِهِ أَنَّهُم يُفَكِّرُونَ هكَذَا في أَنْفُسِهِم فَقَالَ لَهُم: «لِمَاذَا تُفَكِّرُونَ بِهذَا في قُلُوبِكُم؟ ما هُوَ الأَسْهَل؟ أَنْ يُقَالَ لِلْمُخَلَّع: مَغْفُورَةٌ لَكَ خطَايَاك؟ أَمْ أَنْ يُقَال: قُمْ وَٱحْمِلْ فِرَاشَكَ وَٱمْشِ؟ ولِكَي تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ لإبْنِ الإِنْسَانِ سُلْطَانًا أَنْ يَغْفِرَ الخَطَايَا عَلَى الأَرْض»، قالَ لِلْمُخَلَّع: لَكَ أَقُول: قُم، إِحْمِلْ فِرَاشَكَ، وٱذْهَبْ إِلى بَيْتِكَ!. فقَامَ في الحَالِ وحَمَلَ فِرَاشَهُ، وخَرَجَ أَمامَ الجَمِيع، حَتَّى دَهِشُوا كُلُّهُم ومَجَّدُوا اللهَ قَائِلين: «مَا رَأَيْنَا مِثْلَ هذَا البَتَّة!».

ميزة العجيبة

ما يجعل هذه الواقعة الإلهية مختلفة عن غيرها أن المعني بالشفاء أي المخلع لم يطلب الشفاء لنفسه من يسوع ولم يسعى لذلك ولا هو طلب المغفرة لخطاياه مع إن المسيح كان يأتي إلى ذلك المجمع ولتلك البلدة كفرناحوم باستمرار. ما يلفت هنا أن محبي المخلع وربما كانوا أفراداً من عائلته وأقربائه أو ربما بعض من تلاميذ المسيح نفسه هم من أمنوا أن الرب قادر على شفاء هذا المقعد منذ 38 سنة بمجرد أن يلمسه فحملوه ودفعهم إيمانهم القوي إلى اختراق الجموع والصعود إلى سقف البيت وفتح كوة فيه وإنزاله مربوطاً إلى فراشه من خلالها إلى حيث كان يجلس المسيح وطلبوا منه شفائه.

ولأن الخطيئة هي الموت وهي التي تقعد الإنسان وتشله وتبعده عن الله فقد غفر المسيح أولاً خطايا المقعد ومن ثم أحيي جسده المشلول وقال له قم أحمل فراشك وأذهب. هذه الواقعة تبين أهمية الشفاعة والصلاة للغير أكان هذا الغير قريباً أو لم يكن والله دائما يسمع ويصغي ويستجيب وهو القائل اقرعوا يفتح لكم واطلبوا فيستجاب لطلبكم. الصلاة للغير أحياء وأموات مقبولة ومستجابة عند الله الذي هو محبة وأب حنون لا يرد طلب ولا يترك محتاج إلا ويسعفه.

يقول الإنجيل صلوا بإيمان وثقة ولا تملوا والله يستجيب لصلاتكم. إن الصلاة لمن هو بحاجة لها فرض على كل مؤمن وخصوصاً الصلاة للواقعين في التجارب ولغير القادرين عقلياً على استيعاب الأمور وتقدير العواقب من مثل المرضى النفسيين وفاقدي القدرة على الحركة والنطق.

لنصلي لكل من هو بحاجة إلى التغلب على ضعفه وعجزه أكان هذا الضعف جسدي أو إيماني والله لا يرد لنا طلباً.

صلاة اليوم

حرّرنا ايها الرب يسوع من مغريات الارض، لنسعى الى اكتساب القيم الروحية والثقافية والاجتماعية، تعزيزاً لها. حقق فينا حضارة الوجه التي تعكس جمال وجهك، وجه الحرية والعدالة، المحبة والسلام. اهّلنا لاحتمال كل شيء ينال من كرامتنا، لكي تسلم القيم ويتعزز الخير العام. اعطنا ان نرتضي العار في هذه الدنيا، راجين ألاّ يسود وجهنا الخجلُ في اليوم الاخير. لك المجد الى الابد آمين.

تأملات في الأسبوع الخامس من الصوم الكبير - المخلع

تحذير من اليأس في الطريق . لا يأس ولا فشل بعد في المسيح... فالمخلع قام وحمل سريره بعد 38 سنة مرضاً، بعد 38 سنة شللاً، 38 سنة خطية، 38 سنة ضائعة.

إن ربنا يسوع لا يحسب السنين بل عندما نعرفه يجدد مثل النسر شبابناً. نحن نقول احسبنا مع أصحاب الساعة الحادية عشر. إن الحياة في المسيح هي جديدة كل يوم.

والمشاكل الخطيرة والضيقات تسبب لنا في المسيح انطلاقة جبارة. ليس في المسيحية شيخوخة ولا يأس، بل أمل متجدد... هذا هو دستور سيرنا في رحلة الصوم، أمل وحياة جديدة في المسيح، وفرح وشجاعة وعدم يأس... وانطلاقات روحية ونمو مستمر... إنها رحلة لا تعرف التوقف أبداً.

الشرح عن نشرة رعيتي

عجيبة شفاء المخّلع في هذا النص الإنجيلي تختلف عن كل العجائب الشفائية الأخرى، فالمريض لم يتكلم كلمة واحدة، ولا أظهر ايمانه. لكن الرب إذ رأى ايمان أقربائه وأحبائه الذين أحضروه شفاه عن عاهته، لأنه في حالات كثيرة لا يُطلب إيمان المريض فقط، خاصة عندما يكون فاقد الحواس، بل إيمان وصلاة أهل بيته التي تشفع له وتنجيه.

لقد كان وضع المخّلع متردّياً جداً، وأمام ذلك تفاجأ الجميع بأن يسوع تغاضى لحظتها عن هذا الوضع المثير للشفقة وقال للمخّلع: "يا بنيّ مغفورة لك خطاياك". من الواضح أنه لا حاملوا المخّلع كانوا يطلبون شيئاً كهذا من يسوع ولا الجمهور المحتدش كان ينتظر ذلك أيضاً. لقد أراد الرب أن يؤكد للجميع، في مثل هذه الحالة الخطرة حتى الحد الأقصى، أن الخطر الأكبر هو تخليع الروح وليس الجسد. وأن ألأهم هو الروح بينما الجسد هو الخادم له. لقد شدد يسوع بقوة على تفوق الروح على المادة، فالتفت إلى مغفرة الخطايا وصحة النفس عندما كان الجشد بأشد الحاجة إلى الصحة.

"ولكن لتعلموا أن ابن الإنسان له سلطان على الأرض أن يغفر الخطايا، حينئذ قال للمخّلع : قم احمل فراشك، واذهب إلى بيتك".

لقد كشف يسوع عن سلطانه عندما انزعج لحاضرون، وأظهر بذلك أنه مساوٍ لأبيه لأنه لم يقل أن ابن الإنسان يحتاج أكثر من غيره أو أعطي له بل قال : "أن لابن الإنسان سلطاناً " وهذا لكي يقنعهم أنه لا يجدّف عندما يساوي نفسه بالله.

بعد أن شفاه يسوع أرسله إلى بيته. فأظهر بذلك أن ما جرى ليس خيالاً. لأن الذين كانوا شاهدين لمرضه يستخدمهم هم نفسهم شاهدين بشفائه. لأنه يقول أريد بدائك أن أداوي هؤلاء الذين هم أصحاء في الظاهر فقط. ولكن كوﻧﻬم لا يريدون ذلك اذهب أنت إلى بيتك لكي تقوّم هناك أقرباءك وتبشّر في وسط جماعتك بالرب الذي أحسن إليك وأحبّك وخّلصك.

شرح اضافي

يسوع في كفر ناحوم, المدينة التي يسكن فيها (انظر متى 4: 13). بشكل مختصر يروي متى في هذا الفصل الإنجيلي أن مخلّعاً ملقى على سريره حُملَ إلى يسوع ليشفيه. هذه الرواية على اختصارها تحمل مدلولات عدّة تتعلق بشخص يسوع المسيح وموقف سامعيه منه.

"فلما رأى يسوع إيمانهم قال للمخلّع ثق يا بنيّ, مغفورة لك خطاياك": سبق ليسوع, بحسب إنجيل متى , أن شفى مفلوجين(4: 24) ,إلا أن حادثة المخلع ذات أهمية كبيرة وذلك لأنها, بشكل أوضح, تربط هذا الشفاء بالموقف من شخص يسوع والنظرة إليه. في هذا الإطار يروي الإنجيلي أن يسوع, لما رأى إيمان الذين حملوا المخلّع إليه, شفاه. توحي هذه الجملة أن المخلّع نفسه لم يكن مهما بقدر الذين حملوه إلى يسوع. فإيمان هؤلاء بيسوع هو الذي دفعه إلى أن يشفيه.

وبناء على موقف الإيمان هذا ينطلق الكاتب ليشدّد على النقطة الثانية والأهمّ في هذه الرواية, وهي ما يقوله يسوع للمريض:" ثق يا بنيّ, مغفورة لك خطاياك". فعل "ثق" مهم في هذه الرواية, وذلك لأنه لا يَرِدْ عند متى إلا على لسان يسوع, ويفيد أن بيسوع غفران الخطايا والخلاص. والحقيقة أن رواية المخلّع منذ البداية محورها غفران الخطايا. وغفران الخطايا موضوع مهم في إنجيل متّى. فمنذ بداية إنجيله, يقدّم الإنجيلي يسوع مخلّصا لشعبه من خطاياهم(1: 21). الخطيئة هي الفعل الذي يفصل الإنسان عن الله ويبعده عنه, وهي لهذا سبب كل مرض (انظر لاويين 26: 14-16؛ تثنية 28: 21 ؛ يوحنا 5: 14؛ 9: 2 الخ...).

يعجب الحاضرون لأن يسوع لم يقل "احمل سريرك واذهب إلى بيتك". على الأرجح كان الحاضرون ينتظرون شفاءً, مجرّد شفاء, إلا أن يسوع تحدث عن غفران الخطايا, معطيا غفران الخطايا أهمية أكبر من تلك التي للشفاء الجسدي. وهذا ما يشدّد عليه متى في سائر إنجيله حيث حوادث الشفاء مرتبطة بالإيمان بيسوع المسيح, وليس لها أهمية بمعزل عن هذا الإيمان. يسوع هو المخلّص بالمعنى الأشمل للكلمة: وهذا ما يقودنا إلى النقطة الأساسية في هذه الحادثة وهي أن يسوع إنما يغفر الخطايا بسلطان أُعطي له من الله.

"فقال قوم من الكتبة في أنفسهم هذا يجدّف". لا يدخل الكتبة في نقاش مباشر مع يسوع. يقولون في أنفسهم إنه يجدّف. لا يقول متى لماذا ألقوا عليه هذه التهمة. لكن سبب ذلك واضحٌ وهو أنهم رأوا فيه إنسانا يضع نفسه, بغفرانه خطايا البشر, جنبا إلى جنب مع الله, وهذا في الفكر اليهودي تجديف. لكن يسوع يعلم ما يفكرون في قلوبهم ويقول لهم إن هذا الفكر شريرُ "لماذا تفكرون بالشر في قلوبكم؟", وذلك لأن يسوع لم يكن يجدّف, بل الله هو الذي يعمل فيه وهو الذي أعطاه هذا السلطان. السؤال المهم هو: بأي سلطان يفعل يسوع هذا؟.

"ما الأيسر أن يُقال: مغفورة لك خطاياك أم أن يُقال قُم فامشِ؟.

يفترض هذا السؤال أن يسوع يجد أن غفران الخطايا أصعب من أن يقال "قم وامشِ".

فلو قال أولا قم وامشِ لما حدث ما حدث ولما اتهموه بالتجديف. لكنه قال للمخلّع "مغفورة لك خطاياك"، "لكي تعلموا أن ابن البشر له سلطان على الأرض أن يغفر الخطايا".

تبلغ رواية المخلّع في هذه الآية أوجها. ففيها يقول يسوع عن نفسه أنه ابن الإنسان موضحا للقارئ (لنا) بأي سلطان يفعل هذا. "ابن الإنسان" بحسب كتاب دانيال (دانيال 7: 13) هو المخلّص الذي سيأتي في آخر الأيام والذي سيعطيه الله سلطانا لتتعبّد له كل شعوب الأرض. يسوع , بحسب متى, هو ابن الإنسان الذي تحدّث عنه دانيال. وقد أعطاه الله كل سلطان مما في السماء وما على الأرض ( متى 28: 18 ), وسلطانه لن يزول (متى 28: 20). هذا السلطان الأبدي يتحقق منذ الآن, على الأرض, بغفران الخطايا.

يتوجّه يسوع الآن إلى المخلّع حتى يظهر قوله بالفعل. يغيب الكتبة عن المشهد. سلطان يسوع يطغى عليهم. الجموع التي رأت كل هذا أو علمت بما حصل تعجّبت واندهشت. هذا العجب وهذه الدهشة سببهما الحضور الإلهي. تنتهي الرواية بقولها: "ومجَّدوا الله الذي أعطى الناس سلطانا كهذا". المقصود "بالناس" هنا يسوع ومن خلاله أولئك الذين أعطاهم هو سلطان غفران الخطايا: " ما تحلّونه على الأرض يكون محلولاً في السماء, وما تربطونه على الأرض يكون مربوطاً في السماء ( متى 18: 18 ).

في خاتمة هذه الرواية توترّ بين جموع الناس التي آمنت بيسوع وبأن سلطانه من الله, وبين الكتبة الذين قالوا إن هذا السلطان إنما هو من الشيطان ( 12: 24 ). لكن ما حدث مع المخلّع سبق فأوضح نتيجة كلّ من الموقفين

سماع كلام الله ولّد الايمان بقدرة المسيح الالهية والمحبة تجاه المحتاج لدى الرجال الاربعة الذين حملوا المخلّع الى يسوع. وبرجاء وطيد ثقبوا السقف ودلّوا السرير الذي كان المخلع عليه. الايمان والمحبة والرجاء، هذه ثمار سماع كلام الله، تقدمها اللوحة الانجيلية التي تنطبق على الافراد والجماعة، مخلعين كانوا ام حاملين المخلع، فيما المسيح هو هو امس واليوم والى الابد ( عبرانيين 13/8)، يغفر الخطايا ويشفي الامراض ويقدس الاوجاع.

The Healing of the paralytic Sunday
Mark 2/1-12: "When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was in the house. 2:2 Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them. 2:3 Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him. 2:4 When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on. 2:5 Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 2:6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 2:7 “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 2:8 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts? 2:9 Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’ 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 2:11 “I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” 2:12 He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

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Mark 2:1-12 (RCL Gospel for Epiphany 7 - 20 February 2000)
Sermon Notes by Wayne Dobratz
Jesus had adopted Capernaum as his hometown after his own people rejected him and tried to kill him. They came in large crowds, as Mark tells us in 2:1-12.
The faith of these 5 men, 4 stretcher bearers and the paralytic himself, was shining like the dawn. The man, who had been let down, wanted to be lifted up, allowed to walk again.
The point here is the power of Jesus' Word and faith in it. "When Jesus saw their faith..." is a key phrase. As urgent as his need was for healing, there was an even greater burden--his sin. Jesus speaks to him so tenderly, like a father. "Son, your sins are forgiven. I'm lifting the weight of guilt from your shoulders so that, pardoned by me, you can stand upright before God, even though you are still lying flat on your back."
vv. 6-7 The teachers of the Law let their reason stand in the way, blocking the door to faith in Jesus. "This man," they thought, "does not have the right to forgive sins." Yes, only God can forgive sins and that's the point that Jesus pursues. Their second premise was wrong. Because they did not believe that Jesus was God, their conclusion was wrong.
vv.8-11 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus rebukes them as to who He is. He then proceeds to prove that He has the authority to forgive sins by healing the man's paralysis.
The results were in, the votes were counted. The man got up, took his mat and went home, before the startled eyes of all. "The bed had borne the man; now the man bears the bed," wrote Bengel. Overwhelmed, the people praised God.
Homiletical Suggestions:
It is Mark's theme to portray the power of Jesus over evil and the results of evil. It comes very early in Mark's Gospel and is a great Epiphany text.
Here are some possible outlines:
Jesus, the Great Physician
1) He knows the cause 2) He can treat the effects
or
Jesus Has the Authority
1) To forgive sins 2) To heal the consequences of sin
or
Wholistic Healing
1) Soul 2) Body
or
Bring Others to Jesus
1) Don't let anything stop you (vv1-4)
2) His Message fits them all (vv5-8)
3) Bodily Needs are included, both then and now (vv9-12)
Some of the above comes from Sermon Studies on the Gospels--Series B, Ernst Wendland, Ed. Northwestern Publishing House.
- Wayne Dobratz <>
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Pick up your Mat and Go Home -- Healing of the Paralytic "Pick up Your Mat and Go Home"
The Healing of the Paralytic
by Marcellino D'Ambrosio
What the healing of the paralytic as recounted in the Gospel of Mark teaches us about the faith of the community and even infant baptism.
Sometimes we act as if sins are just black marks against us in God’s ledger, debits against our rewards account.
But the gospel story of the paralytic (Mark 2:1-12) should wake us up to the real nature of sin. For sin is more than a demerit–it is distancing of a person from God, who happens to be our source of life and energy. God’s Holy Spirit is “the force” that must be with us if we are to have life and strength and vigor.
Sin is always a result of a decision. Original Sin, flowing from the tragic decision of Adam and Eve, causes us to inherit a weakened humanity which, from the moment of conception, is distanced from God. Actual sin results from each person’s own decisions. Some decisions can cut us off entirely from the divine life source. We call these decisions “mortal.” Some decisions don’t snuff out divine life, but rather weaken it. Such sins are called “venial.”
But whether original or actual, mortal or venial, sin always drains the life right out of us. As we walk away from God, we grow spiritually weaker and weaker till we come to the point that we no longer have the strength to walk back home to our Father.
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after his first mission trip, people flocked to him. But a paralyzed man couldn’t join the throng–he just lay there watching people pass him by. Until, that is, some of his friends cared enough to pick him up and bring him to Jesus. But then they encountered a problem–the crowd was so thick that they could not get their friend through the door. They could have consoled themselves that they tried, and then brought the poor man home. But they were more determined than that. They hoisted him up on the roof, opened a hole in the thatch, and lowered him down.
The gospel of Mark makes a curious comment at this point. “Seeing their faith,” it says, Jesus turns to the paralyzed man and tells him that his sins are forgiven. First of all, note that faith is something that should be visible. The four stretcher carriers believed that Jesus was, at the very least, a mighty man of God who could help their friend. But this belief manifested itself in resolute, persistent, conspicuous action. And of course this faith was united with charity, since they had gone to such great lengths not for themselves but for their unfortunate friend.
Notice, however, that it was not the paralyzed man’s faith that prompted Jesus’ decision to forgive his sin. It was the faith of his friends. Perhaps his physical paralysis was a sign of utter spiritual paralysis–maybe he had not the strength to make a positive act of faith.
So his friends’ faith stood in proxy for his own. That’s exactly why infant baptism has always practiced in the Church from the beginning–the faith of parents, godparents, and the whole church stand in proxy for the infant who is incapable of faith.
The most deadly paralysis is the paralysis of sin. But when the Pharisees object to Jesus authority to heal this malady, to wipe out his past and give him a brand new start (Is 43:18-25), Jesus demonstrates his competence by healing the physical disease as well. Jesus does not say “yes” to our spiritual needs and say “no” to our earthly needs (2 Cor 1:18-22). He created us body and soul and desires that we have fullness of life, in every department, and have it abundantly (John 10:10).
So a tormented man who had to be carried to Jesus walked away bearing his own stretcher and free as a lark. It would never have happened, though, if his faith-filled friends had not cared enough to risk ridicule and disappointment to bring him to Jesus.
So when’s the last time you invited someone to church?
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By: James Love
Sermon Mark 2:1-12
Imagine it, Jesus is at home in Capernum. Living at Peter's house; remember after worship they went home, cured Peter's mother-in-law, then cured others and cast out demons.
Word certainly has gotten out, because their home is now packed with people. They are in the kitchen, in the halls, even hanging out the front doors. Folks have heard that Jesus is healing people and they come for obvious reasons. Some are curious, some are sceptical, and some are desperate to have Jesus bring them some peace.
Those of you who've had a loved one sick understand that desperation. You get the diagnosis, and the words of the doctor seem unreal. What do you mean it's life threatening! What do you mean there is no cure. Surely there must be some help somewhere. When doctor's have no additional help people who are sick are vulnerable to all sorts of charlatans which their miracle cures.
And we know that some of them, abusing Jesus name, with hidden actors or hidden cameras, will make a good living off the sick and vulnerable who when they ‘come to the end of their rope' will look for any hope to hang onto. Maybe he can help.
Perhaps we can understand efforts of the four who carry the paralytic man to Jesus. Coming to the house, they see the crowds. Seeing there is no chance in getting him in through the door, the climb the stairs to the roof. And atop the flat mud roofs of Capernum, they dig a hole right in the roof! How creative and how determined their love is.
It makes me wonder who this paralysed man is? As often is the case in the Bible, people are referred to in terms of relationships. "His brother, her father, his daughter, his wife ..." And yet, no names or relationships are given, it doesn't even say if the people carrying him were men or women. Just people with a love willing to break the rules, cause trouble, get there loved one lowered to Jesus and healed.
While their efforts perhaps don't parallel ours, I think this scripture passage speaks to the events of this morning. We, a group of people who not related, have gathered here with thanksgiving, to present Fraser as a newest follower of Jesus, through Baptism. It seems strange to say he is the newest follower of Jesus since he has for many years been following and we certainly recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. Indeed, he has become the chair of the Church council, even though dare I point it out, that was against the rules! And yet, if the text is clear, sometimes we find that God even decides to change the rules.
Fraser has been actively participating for some time, and as we see in other parts of scriptures, sometimes the work of the Holy Spirit follows baptism and sometimes precedes it. Regardless of how it happened, we group of people have the joy of seeing you enter a new relationship with Christ as one of the Baptized. We who mostly are not relatives, and we who come from different cultures and backgrounds, we have committed to be the Church with you. We who were strangers, through Christ, now call you brother.
And that is amazing in itself, because, except for some who's parents make them come, none of us need have cared about being at Fraser's baptism into Christ. We could have done something else, like go golfing, play nintendo, sleep in, or go shopping. And yet, we have chosen to share this time with you, indeed, you need other's present for it to be a baptism.
And I think there truth of why many of us are here with you, is spoken in the text. We have heard of the power of Jesus Christ. We have witnessed the power of Christ to heal the lives of others, or we have experienced that healing ourselves. But there is something deeper at work here and in the text. Did you hear it?
When the paralytic was lowered to Jesus, he forgives his sins because of the faith of those who brought him. For the sake of this small community of fours people which seeks wholeness for their friend, they have brought their friend. But there is something strange, at first Jesus does not heal him, but forgives him.
Now some think this is because at the time people thought illness was a punishment by God for sin. But that is too simplistic. Innocent people get sick and it is a mystery to us. And yes, sometimes people get sick and it is their own fault. And of course, sometimes people who abuse their bodies and don't get sick, it is a mystery.
And yet, what about Jesus actions with the paralytic. They lower him into the house of Jesus in need of healing and the first thing Jesus does is forgive him because of the faith of the others. Not only is this strange, but it is controversial! For you see, the scribes were there. You remember who they are. They are the professors and teachers of religion. We should not be surprised to see them there since all the town was talking about miracle healings. Like today, we have persons who focus their lives on learning the scriptures, so that when false teachers arise or fake healers try to cheat people, they can raise the tough questions.
And today they amongst all the guests in Jesus house seem the most troubled by what Jesus does. For you see, Jesus does not say, "In the name of God, your sins are forgiven." Or "On behalf of God, your sins are forgiven." Instead he forgives them, he says, "Son, your sins are forgiven." And forgiveness can only be proclaimed by God very self.
You can understand their confusion. Have they heard right? Why does this fellow speak this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?
Yet, Jesus response to them is puzzling. He says, "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven', or to say, ‘Stand up take your mat and go to your home."
This is puzzling since both are nothing short of miraculous. And yet, when the Church on this side of the resurrection looks at the text, we are drawn toward saying that forgiveness certainly less amazing than a miracle healing. Just think about it, each Sunday, we gather here and Wendy or I, or someone else proclaims that we are a forgiven people. Something incredible happened at Church, "Wow, someone received God's forgiveness today!" However, if this Sunday we carried someone paralysed up front and God healed them from a disease that doctors could not, within a few weeks this Church would be filled and people rightly would be pouring out the front doors. A group might even rip a hole in our roof to lower someone down right there.
And yet, for the scribes, the issue of forgiveness was more shocking. Why? It was more shocking because they knew that only God could proclaim someone forgiven. To proclaim the ability to forgive would be to claim the authority and presence of God's very self. In their understanding of the scriptures, even the coming Messiah could not forgive sins, only God has such authority. Only God could say, "You are right with me now. You are acceptable to me now. With you I am well pleased."
Did you notice that Jesus calls the paralytic "son". I almost missed that. Do you remember at Jesus own baptism, just as he was coming out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him, and a voice from heaven saying, "You are my son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased."
You see, that is what is so amazing, if Jesus has such authority, then God has come near in him. God's kingdom is present in him; the authority, the power, and the presence of God's very self became a human being named Jesus, whom we call the Son.
This is why we describe God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As any good Father, God desires wholeness, healing, and a good relationship with the Son. As Jesus the Son, God is present in this world, and through this relationship the power of the Holy Spirit is present in our world. And the Spirit of God is present, we see healing, restoration of relationship, justice for the poor, and of course forgiveness. In John's Gospel, he says, "When you see the Son, you see the Father." That is why when people ask what God is really like, we say, "Look at Jesus life." And central to Jesus life, is his forgiveness of others, even his enemies.
And perhaps forgiveness is the most important gift of all. For this morning, through Baptism we say Fraser's sins were washed away. To some that might seem like stuffy old church language, but today's text tells us that this language is about Christ's authority given by God. That anyone who is baptised as a follower of Jesus has been united with Christ as the beloved Son. The core truth at the centre of Christianity is enacted in this simple service, and through the most ordinary of material; water.
That God says to Fraser, "You are my son, and with you I am well pleased." He need not earn this relationship through work, or being good enough, or being spiritual enough, or any other way. His worth is secure because the Love of God has come near. And not just internally, lest Christianity be reduced to psychology, but, by faith, we also proclaim that all of him, his mind, his body, and his spirit are secure in his relationship with Jesus Christ. And on the day of resurrection, when he stands before the Judgement seat of God, Christ will stand with him and say, "Acceptable." As Paul said, "If we have been united with him in a death like him, we certainly will be united with him in a resurrection like his." Through our baptism and through the forgiveness of God, we know our lives and our future are secure through Jesus Christ. In this life and in the age to come.
And being united with Christ, means that we are also entrusted and given the authority to be the Church; to be a community who's love for one another is a sign of God's Kingdom in the world, a physical presence of the hospitality and love of God. Whether people are hanging our the doors, or whether just a handful gather, the mission is the same. We have been saved for a purpose, to be the body of Christ shaped by the power of the Holy Spirit, as the agents of God's creative love in the world. And Fraser, we give thanks to God that we are united with you in Christ as that mission
=========================================================================================================================Father Michael A. Sisco
Father Knows Best
Jesus and the Paralyzed Man, by Darlene Slavujac Thau, used with permission. View website on this link.
A Reflection on Mark 2: 1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.” (Mark 2: 1-12)
“Father Knows Best.” I have a vague recollection of that show in the early seventies. It was sandwiched between “My Three Sons” and “Leave it To Beaver.” And I think the plot was almost always the same; there was always some little family problem, actually a minuscule problem by 21st century standards; and Dad always had the right solution, the right answer, the right thing to say, and all family crises were resolved in thirty minutes, including commercials.
I often wonder what that paralytic’s reaction was when Jesus told him his sins were forgiven. If he was anything like me, his reaction would have been, “Oh crud! I’m hot, I’m tired. My friends come and tell me about a miracle worker who can make me walk. They carry me from another village. We can’t get in. They hoist me on the roof and cut a hole in the roof to lower me down. He’s walking over. I think to myself, ‘This is it!’ And he tells me my sins are forgiven.”
We don’t deal with disappointment well. That’s because we’re always trying to inflict our plan on God, instead of trying to find out what God’s plan is for us. The Pharisees are a classic example. They knew what THEY wanted in a Messiah. They had THEIR plan. But Jesus didn’t meet their qualifications, even after he proves over and over again that he MUST be from God.
And so often we are no different. We still want things our way. I was all ready to be ordained a priest on May 31st 1997. Plans were made. A month before the ceremony I got a call from the vocations director. He said, “Mike, I don’t how to tell you this, but the date of the ordination has been changed to June14th.” My reaction, “Oh crud!” On the outside I was smiling, “That’s OK, Father. A-Ha Ha. I understand. A-ha ha. These things happen. Ha Ha Ha.” But in my mind, I was having less charitable thoughts. And what was I worried about; rebooking a hall, a photographer? Little stuff, not worth getting upset about. But we get upset with disappointment.
Jesus knew what he was doing when he first told that paralytic his sins were forgiven. Because that was the real miracle. What is there in healing the body? Let’s be honest. Is their any one of us who can claim their body has no defects? Aren’t we always too fat, too thin, too tall, too short? We paint the face, and color the hair, read up on Rogaine so we can get back our receding hairline. We buy the latest miracle diets, call Jenny Craig, renew memberships at the gym.
In a previous assignment, I visited a beautiful eighteen year old girl, a parishioner where I was stationed, who was in Rhode Island Hospital, -- for anorexia. I visited this same young lady that previous summer for the same thing. She thought she was too fat for the world, too fat for her friends, too fat to attract a boyfriend, and she was a beautiful, beautiful young woman.
I remember a statistic from about ten years ago. It said that, in that particular year, teenage girls spent an excess of 80 billion dollars on cosmetics and cosmetic surgery, and the bulk of that money was spent on breast augmentation. Teenage girls! Shame on us! We teach our girls the most important thing is to look sexy. We teach our boys to use steroids to enhance their bodies because the most important thing for boys is to win. Girls have to look hot, and boys have to win. That’s what makes you worth anything in our culture today. Look at what our obsession with the body has driven our children to!
What is healing a defect in the body, compared to bringing a dead soul to life? You tell me what the real miracle was! Our Church abounds with miracles! You don’t have to go to Medjugorje! You don’t have to see apparitions! You want to see a miracle? Receive communion. Go to confession. Witness a baptism. These are miracles, because they bring life to the soul. The body is almost trivial by comparison. Yet whenever we have a little ache or pain, whenever we have a little disappointment, we moan, never considering that maybe God is trying to use that tiny suffering to bring a soul to him.
Jesus did heal the paralytic’s body, but first he healed his soul, because that was more important. So instead of complaining when we have to endure our little crosses, why don’t we resolve to offer our sufferings, trials and disappointments to the Lord, to help bring about his plan, because truly, our eternal Father knows best.
And blessed be God forever.
--Father Michael Anthony Sisco, Visitor to the Confraternity of Penitents