“And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.” (Mark 2:4)
War, terrorism, occupation, earthquakes, hurricanes, rising sea levels, forced migrations of people, shootings here at home, shootings in Lewiston ME. Homelessness, hunger, poverty, a new version of covid, an American congress in public disarray – and the list goes on: A list that frankly can be so overwhelming that our spirits can be paralyzed – causing us to emotionally and psychologically shut down or turn away.
As we prepared for our annual Fall Fest gathering, we wrestled with “our moment” in time – a time that often makes us feel powerless. It is a time that prompts us to ask ourselves: How is it that we as individuals, as congregations and as a presbytery lean into our Jesus-call to embody compassion, embrace commitment, and use creativity when confronted by the enormity of the challenges before us?
This Markan text speaks to how a small group of individuals leaned into the challenge before them. We are told that four people – nameless and faceless were carrying one who could not carry himself. Their goal was to bring him to Jesus, who had recently returned home. Sounds like a plan. But as the narrative tells us, the crowd was such that they could not get near the door of the house where Jesus was. Now they could have responded in some reasonable ways. They could have just waited at the back of the crowd – and hoped they would eventually make it in, they could have gone home, after all they did try and there was no way forward.
But their compassion for the man and their commitment to bring healing to his broken body, did not allow them to surrender to the reasonable and logical options before them. They did not surrender to what could have been overwhelming as they encountered the wall of people. Instead, they were emboldened to think outside the box. These four individuals creatively found the courage to climb the roof, dig a hole in it and lower the paralyzed man into the house – where he would encounter Jesus.
Finding an alternative path when what once worked no longer seems effective or even faithful is part of our calling. Finding a way to carry those who cannot carry themselves is part of our calling. Finding a way to show up for others in a way that might just bring healing is part of our calling. I believe we are a people invited to dig a hole in the roof – to allow for those encounters that bring hope and transformation possibilities.
Our time tomorrow at Abington Presbyterian Church for Fall Fest will provide us with the opportunity to consider how we might creatively use our compassion and commitment to dig holes into the metaphorical roofs and walls we encounter. We will explore partners as we seek to resist systems and forces that perpetuate gun violence. We will explore how we might partner with entities on the forefront, welcoming more and more asylum seekers who find their way into the greater Philadelphia area. We will learn how we might respond when natural disasters hit our region. We will hear from Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Director of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness, as he shares what advocacy looks like as a spiritual discipline for a Jesus people in a world where the values of Jesus are no longer valued.
And let’s be clear about what often happens when we do the necessary work of digging holes in an effort to bring healing to others. We might not be well-received by the people in power – religious or otherwise. It was no different back in Jesus’ day. The religious leaders called him blasphemous. I really love Jesus’ response to them – is it easier to say “Your sins are forgiven” or “Stand up and take your mat and walk?” We know how this story ends. In response to Jesus’ command to stand, the once-paralyzed man picks up the mat and goes out into the world – standing on his feet – reflecting the healing power of Christ.
Friends, there is so much pain in the world – it is exhausting to speak of hope and redemption in the midst of such pain and despair. But as the Romero Prayer reminds us – “It helps now and then to step back and take the long view……. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something and to do it well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest…”
My prayer for us is that the magnitude of the challenges will not stop us from creatively and faithfully finding ways to do something – small and large – that will bring healing to those who cannot heal themselves. May we be the prayers for those who cannot pray for themselves. May we embody hope for those who cannot find hope for themselves.
Let’s be like those four faceless and nameless individuals, who together – with compassion, commitment, and creativity – find a way.
