Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do choose. Be made clean.’ Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. ‘Go’, he said, ‘and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.’ But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray. One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting nearby (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying 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 middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, ‘Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the one who was paralyzed— ‘I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.’ Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today.’ Luke 5:12-26
Love is an extraordinary thing. It makes grown folks tear through a neighbor's roof and lower a friend to see Jesus. Love doesn't let barriers of time and space get in the way. I am sure those who lower the man down came back and repaired the roof, willingly taking on the consequences of their actions. But first and foremost, love moves to action so that healing and restoration can happen. May we remember today all those who have demonstrated extraordinary love on our behalf. Those mothers and fathers, friends and neighbors who saw our need and broke through barriers on our behalf. When we were weak and unable love found a way. And so it is with Jesus, when we cannot find our way through, we are found by him.
Gracious Creator, you plant us in community
with family, friends and neighbors who love us
who are willing to help when we are broken
and not afraid to break through so we might thrive.
Too often we see only our limitations and frailty
we believe there is nothing anyone can do for us
yet you are always acting on behalf of the hurting
and seeking us out when we are far away from you.
Help us today to trust in your extraordinary love
love which breaks down barriers and opens hearts
love that is there is sorrows and all our joys
love that always acts to restore and heal our world. Amen.
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