Word to the Wise
Monday, December 5, 2016 - 2nd Week of Advent - Mon
[Isa 35:1-10 and Luke 5:17-26]MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016. MONDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT [Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 5:17-26] Then the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened; then the lame shall leap like a stag, and the mute tongue sing for joy. [Isaiah] The quote is from Isaiah so that the story in the gospel can be seen in its light. It is the story of some friends of a paralytic who bring him to be cured by Jesus. They cannot get in the house, so they take the poor man on a stretcher up on the roof and tear off part of the roof to lower him down into the room! After all that commotion, the gospel says, "When he [Jesus] saw their faith, he said, 'As for you [the paralytic], your sins are forgiven.'" The first thing I want to note is that it is the faith of those friends that bring him to Jesus. I have heard this time and again from people who join the church or return to it after a lapse of time and faith. The faith of friends is what attracts. It is an active faith. Those stretcher-bearers had to do something about their friend. What can WE do? The second thing is to note how forgiveness and healing are connected in the gospel story. Advent is a great time for healing old wounds or discarding old feuds. Forgiveness and reconciliation can open our eyes and ears and remove burdens. In short, we have the power to bring Jesus into the world for ourselves and others. Can this be the Advent that we long for? Can this be the Advent we bring about? AMEN
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