Dear Friends,

Our readings this Sunday are about forgiveness, a divine action so integral to the spiritual and emotional well being of humanity. The first reading from Isaiah speaks of God's forgiving of Israel who has "burdened... and wearied" God by their sinfulness. Rather than wiping them out with his anger and pain, God's action is to "wipe out" their "offenses" and promises to "remember them (the offenses) no more". If only we humans could respond to those who have injured us with even a glimmer of the graciousness of God expressed in this reading.

Who among us has not struggled with the need to forgive another... or oneself? The gospel picks up this theme and tells us the story of the paralyzed man who, because of his disability and the crowds, is not able to access Jesus on his own. So four friends "opened up the roof" of the home where Jesus is being hosted, and after they "had broken through", lower their friend down into the presence of the 'miracle worker'. Awed by their faith, Jesus announces that the man's "sins are forgiven". The 'scribes' who were with Jesus expressed outrage at Jesus' presumed blasphemy; and Jesus issues a homiletic on his true identity, reinforced by his instruction to the paralytic to "pick up your mat and go home." They are all "astounded".

Why is it that the physical healing brought their astonishment; and the spiritual healing generated critique? It seems that the inability to understand and relate to forgiveness is not only phenomenon of our time and place. The story of the little girl, paralyzed for life after she was shot by a teenager in the city several years ago comes to mind. During her testimony at the trial, this little one expressed her forgiveness of the teen... and those in the courtroom and all who have heard this story since continue to be 'astounded'. In this case, we realized the 'power' of forgiveness, not just for the teen whose sentence will now not be laced with an awareness of being hated, but rather will spend his life undoubtedly absorbing the power of this child's forgiveness; not just for the child whose life will not be scarred by the bitterness which robs many of well being, even while their bodies heal;, but for all of us who have heard the story and had our hearts softened by her profound example of spiritual strength. Forgiveness does heal... hearts, minds and spirits! On the other hand, an unforgiving heart can paralyze and block the flow of healing energy to our hearts, and vicariously to those who witness or are subjected to our stiff and unyielding life stance.

Because any one of us can experience spiritual paralysis, there is another powerful aspect to this gospel story. It is that it was his friends, those who cared about the man who was paralyzed, who were instrumental in his healing. It is a strong message that we come to God through one another. It was his 'community' who "opened up space" for him to meet Jesus; it was his community who "broke through" on his behalf. We need one another, and this story is an unassailable account of the hefty impact we have on one another's faith and healing. We may not all have the physical strength to manually carry one another; but together we can harness the spiritual strength to bring one another home.

If you are seeking community to travel with you and nurture you as you deepen your relationship with God and God's people, we invite you to join us at Spirit of Life. As a community, we try wholeheartedly to "be Christ" to one another, to tend to the needs of one another, and to those in need in our world. Together, we celebrate our belief that we are being transformed by God's grace as we gather together in prayer. We warmly invite you to come and gather with us at our Table, and join in our experience of the "kin-dom" of God. We are an inclusive, open, affirming and interactive community, deeply committed to being a people of "justice and joy."

May you experience God's healing love and forgiveness in your life this week,

Find more about past weekly reflections and podcasts in our ARCHIVE PAGE.