Today's session uses the account of the healing of the paralytic from St. Mark's gospel (Mk 2: 1-12). There have been many observances about this passage which are worth reflecting on: the role of the man's friends in bringing him to Jesus; their determination to overcome the obstacles (a recent theme); the role of faith (ditto); Jesus knowing what is in each of our hearts.
The thing that most resonates with me today is that the miracles of which we tend to take note are as nothing compared to the ones that matter most. Jesus forgives us! The entire purpose of the paralytic's physical healing was so that we would know that Jesus forgives us!
This is a difficult thing for me to keep in the forefront of my mind as my daughter continues to be verbally and emotionally harassed by her estranged husband. I am so filled with a blend of anger toward and fear of him - well, not fear of him, exactly, but of what might happen as I attempt to safeguard my daughter from his potential verbal assault tonight at their son's school program - that I am having a hard time maintaining a spirit of peace in my heart. But he is no less deserving of forgiveness and grace than I am. It is God's great desire that this young man be healed of his brokenness, nor is there any length to which God will not go for that to happen.
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