Being a Christian is not Easy!
My niece’s boyfriend, Rey, died suddenly this week. He was only 52 years old. He was a 100% Disabled Marine Corp Veteran. He was also abusive and manipulative. I did not like him. Nonetheless, my wife, Anna, and I tried to consol my niece the best we could. They have an 8-year-old child (my great nephew) who is a happy well-adjusted little boy. We will continue to support my nephew and her as best we can. We are also praying for Rey’s soul.
Some people would say that it couldn’t happen to a better person, but that would not be the Christian that Jesus wants us to be. It is not our place to judge. I am not sure Jesus likes everyone all the time including me when I sin. Yet Jesus heals indiscriminately everyone who asks. Another words, Jesus can heal us without totally liking us. In our reading’s today Jesus knew the paralytic was a sinner. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ That is a beautiful start to a healing.
This passage speaks to me in the following way. The people of faith who opened the roof must have loved the paralytic a great deal. It was not the faith of the paralytic but that of the people who brought him to Jesus that caused Jesus to first forgive and then heal him. This is where we as a people of faith come into the picture.
Jesus may not always like us, but the prayers and faith of family and friends can motivate Him to perform miracles. We may not like some of the people we pray for. They are “lost sheep” in your life. If you don’t pray and intercede with your faith, what chance do they have of getting healed. Those sheep need our constant prayers and the strength of our faith as a group to change their life. The Gospel says, don’t give up on them. Philippians 4:13 I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me.
There is a side benefit that is not quite so obvious. We benefit from the healing as well. We lose baggage that we have no need to carry.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for children everywhere who are suffering. Pray for peace!
