Get Up

On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.” Luke 5:17-26

It has been dreary and rainy for a couple of days now and my clock is still confused, my internal clock that is. Getting up is a challenge, particularly when I am not sure what time of night or day it is inside. And yet, I take getting up for granted, rising from my bed and being able to walk as a normal and standard act that starts our days. And yet so many people are stuck where they are, by broken bodies and broken minds. They are prisoners in their own dwellings and in their own small room. They are bound to the sheets and dependent on everyone.

Jesus is moved by the power of a community, a group of friends who love their bedridden colleague so much that they would lower his bed of matted straw through the roof to Jesus. How often do we take such measure for those who are trapped in illness, those bound by broken bodies and hearts to a small world devoid of friends and community? They loved their friend so much that they would find any way to bring him to Jesus.

Today I want to remember that God is calling me to bring people to Jesus for healing and transformation. Not to collect numbers but for the outpouring of love and compassion. We are all invited to get up[ and bring our beloved ones to the one who loved them first and wishes healing and strength, community and companionship for us all.