Mark 2: 1- 12 (NRSV)
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic- "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home." And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Blog Reflection
One of my personal frustrations with Christianists and arch-conservative Catholics/Anglicans/Episcopalians/Lutherans/Orthodox etc is their focus on "sins below the belt line." Most of the objections to sexuality outside of marriage, or homosexuality etc, is an obsession with sex that quite frankly gives a very perverted impression.
As we read today's Gospel we see that Jesus is much more concerned with what is in the hearts and minds of the paralyzed man and those around questioning Jesus' words than he is what they do with their sexual organs.
The man on the mat before him was led to believe that he is totally paralyzed because of some sin. Jesus reaches forth his hands to heal, not only does Jesus desire to heal the physical sickness of this man, but also the spiritual malpractice that God makes someone ill because of sin.
The rejection Jesus is experiencing from those accusing him of blasphemy is mostly about a change in understanding and perception. Jesus in his amazing love for both the physically challenged man and the people around him, takes care of both problems. The problem for the paralyzed man was not just physical or spiritual, it was also social. He would have been complete cut off from his local community. He was assumed to be in sin and therefore could have "defiled" those with whom he came into contact. Jesus' healing was God's clarification of many misunderstandings.
When misunderstandings about the Bible, God, Jesus, the Church etc are perpetuated and defended through erroneous means, the results are catastrophic. It becomes difficult for people who would like to believe, trust, love and experience the grace of God. Such ideologies can cause a social and spiritual paralysis. For many, the idea that some are accepted by God while others are rejected creates a paralysis that does not heal.
Injustice and prejudice of marginalized individuals including immigrants, women, LGBT, people of different religions, cultures, races, languages, health status etc, creates a paralysis for society and the Church.
The Minnesota State Government has been shut down now for the past 12 days. As a result so many people are out of work and unable to figure out how to take care of day to day necessities. Gov. Mark Dayton has offered a generous balanced compromise that includes spending cuts and the increase of tax revenues from those who make over $150,000.00 and $500,000.00 a year. All the Republican Majority in the State Legislature wants is deep spending cuts to social programs that affect the most in need in our State. Senior citizens, children, poor families, women, those who want democracy instead of an ideological theocracy, and those who have every thing to lose face more losses because there is no willingness on the part of the Republicans to compromise. As a result, the State of Minnesota is paralyzed.
Over this past year, States all around the Country and our GOP House of Representatives in Washington have been targeting reproductive health care for women. At the same time, decreasing funding for women to be able to take care of children already born and yet to be born in terms of health care, education, job creation, unemployment benefits, job assistance programs and programs that benefit women and children. Such cuts means women in our country and society as a whole faces the reality of paralysis.
The constant attacks on marriage equality for LGBT people, either by proposed constitutional amendments that would ban marriage equality, or the moves of anti-LGBT equality groups such as the National Organization for Marriage, Family Research Council and many Catholic Bishops to destroy the victory of marriage equality in New York State. Hooray for many Episcopal Bishops such as Bishop Mark Sisk of New York and Bishop Lawrence C. Provanzano of Long Island, New York who have looked at the passage of marriage equality in New York as an opportunity to heal the social, religious and political paralysis, through generous acceptance and opening up the opportunities for celebration of the blessing of same-sex marriages.
When individuals experience or do injustice and promote prejudice, society and the Church experiences paralysis.
God comes to us in Jesus and wants us all to know that our sins are forgiven and that we should rise up, take our mats and go home. Go home to create and nurture communities of justice, inclusion and equality for all marginalized persons including LGBT.
Jesus comes as God's perfect revelation to help us to relearn all that we have been taught in new and profound ways.
Jesus wants us to know that God does not send us illness or storms, or pollute our waters with oil to force us to take away reproductive health care programs for women.
God does not call on anyone to commit cruel violence towards LGBT people by promoting bias in terms of jobs, service in our military or have marriage equality.
God is not calling on Christians to make Muslims the new "other" and force them out of their religion to convert to Christianity.
God is not some psycho path that cannot wait to destroy the people God loves so much.
God does not appoint nor commission individuals or organizations to promote and establish capitalistic enterprises of hate, violence and political, social and religious stigmatization of any group of people.
God tells all of us that our sins are forgiven, to pick up our mats that once held us down and to go and make homes of justice, inclusion and equality.
Now isn't that something exciting to get out of bed for?
Amen.
Prayers
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and may also have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 10, Book of Common Prayer, page 231).
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (A Prayer attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, Book of Common Prayer, page 826).
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