Do these
comments sound familiar? "I just don't know what to do!" "I feel utterly
hopeless in this situation." "I'm too frightened to do anything." "I feel so
alone that I can't even think about tomorrow." "I don't know what's going to
happen!" I suspect that every one of us has felt bewildered, helpless,
frightened, apprehensive, or terribly alone at one time or another.
When this
occurs, some people remain paralyzed; they accept defeat, and then they
surrender. Some individuals try to pull themselves out of immobility by their
own efforts; they insist on their independence and self-reliance. Some folks
expect someone else, even God, to make it all better, as they cultivate an
excessive dependence on others. They do little or nothing for themselves. They
accept no responsibility for their own well-being.
It is
unlikely that the paralysis will be healed: surrender, self-reliance, and too
much dependence do not work. They simply aggravate and perpetuate one's
immobility. New adventures, new chapters, new directions - each with some
degree of risk - are closed off.
What will
work? What can we do to heal paralysis when it sets in? What will enable us to
take risks? What will open the door to new adventures, new chapters in our
lives? Clues are in tonight's reading from Mark (2:1-12)!
"Then some
people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them." First
of all, the paralytic was willing to be carried. He had neither given up hope
nor surrendered. Moreover, he was not self-reliant, but appropriately
dependent. Second, he had a support group made up of people who knew that they
could not solve their friend's problem. Instead, they carried him to a healing
resource.
"And when
they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof
above him." What commitment and determination the support group had! They did
not give up when they ran into a significant obstacle. In addition, the
paralytic continued to be willing to depend on them, even when unanticipated
effort was required.
"Son, your
sins are forgiven." Apparently, this type of paralysis was caused by clinging
to some false gods. Perhaps it was the idol of self-pity, which encourages the
"poor me" paralysis; life is tough; I surrender. Perhaps it had been the false
god of self-reliance, which rewards it worshipers with a false sense of
omnipotence, independence and isolation. Or, perhaps, it had been the idol of
excessive dependence - which fosters irresponsible, passive clinging to others;
others who would magically provide a solution. Or, perhaps it was a paralysis
caused by a loyalty to some other false god. Upon meeting Jesus, the paralytic
met God's Word, and within the community of his supporters experienced a
healing trust, a healing faith that led him from loyalties to idols to a
relationship with the loving God of Abraham.
To those of
us who feel bewildered, helpless, frightened, hassled, or isolated - to those
who face a wilderness and the desert - to those to whom life seems to be
shouting "NO!" - are Christ's invitation: Let others know when you feel trapped
and are hurting. Accept the caring hand of those who reach out to you even in
the smallest ways. Accept a pathway in your wilderness, a river in your desert.
In addition, with their love, support, and determination, let go of paralyzing
idols of self-pity, self-reliance, or over-dependence. Let go of all those
immobilizing loyalties that prevent even the smallest risk-taking and new
chapters. The miraculous healing power of the love of God, of one's neighbors,
and of oneself will enable suitable risks, new chapters, and gradual
recovery.
"Then some
people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them." "And
when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the
roof above him." "Son, your sins are forgiven." "I say to you, stand up, take
your mat and go to your home."