Word to the Wise
Monday, December 11, 2006 - Second Monday of Advent
[Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 5:17-26]Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the dar be cleared; Then will the lame leap like a stagf, then the tongue of the mute will sing.....
One of the clear implications of Jesus' ministry of healing is the arrival of "the kiingdom of God." The scribes and Pharisees knew about the passage from Isaiah, but again there is that irony that appears so often. Those who should know better become blind and paralyzed. Those who are lesser show themselves to be the believers. In this case, the litter-bearers are the people of faith who bring their friend to Jesus. Jesus sees their faith and heals the paralytic. It is possible to overlook the importance of the people who bring the paralytic to Jesus. Those people could be any of us! Can we imagine that someone might be healed because of OUR faith? Yes, it can happen! Sometimes we have to pave the way and clear the obstacles - make straight the way of the Lord, as it were! This could be especially true in this very vulnerable season in which so many hurt instead of experiencing joy. Perhaps our "reaching out" will be an occasion of healing. If those litter-bearers had been concerned about the opinion of the scribe and Pharisees, the paralytic would have been lost. Our effort has to be for the sake of the person and not for public approval or disapproval. Could there be a greater gift than bringing healing to someone because we believe that it can be done? Advent is the season of promise. Perhaps our own faith can give flesh to that promise. AMEN
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