Saturday, July 16, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading 
Mark 2:1–12

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 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; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the paralytic — “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (NRSV)

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Reflection
Jesus is in the house.

“… when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.”

“In the house” is an overused colloquialism stating an auspicious arrival and infers all will be touched by a new energy. Oft used in the context of legendary politicians, sports figures, and rock stars, it connotes our awareness of a potent presence, heightens our sensitivities, and elevates our expectations; something is about to happen — a wielding of authority.

Capernaum is on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. A simple fishing village of thatched-roof houses, it may have been home to a number of the apostles and perhaps Jesus as well. Jesus wasn’t just in the house; Jesus was at home. Though this passage from Mark invites reverent reflection on yet another in the suite of miracles performed by Jesus, a change of perspective acquaints us with the exalted faith of those attending the ill visitor. A radical belief in a moment of presence with Jesus yielding a miracle of healing; we should be awestruck by their great faith.

OK. Stop. Consider who is writing this devotional. I am a scientist busy discovering, preventing, and treating diseases. A sick guy falls in through the roof and walks away healed. Really? Shouldn’t I dismiss this as hyperbole, place this in the big mystery box, and request a different devotional assignment? None of the foregoing; it is because I am a scientist that I accept and embrace this passage without equivocation. Hyperbole or fact, something radical happened, and the scorn of others (teachers of the law) proves it. Virtually all new knowledge began as farfetched, heretical even, and unbelievable until we considered the “radical possibilities” in science. Consider this: we frequently (daily?) query Siri, Alexa, Google, expect responses and it’s not a gimmick.

Similarly, there are radical possibilities in faith. An exchange forty years ago addressing the intersection of faith and medicine went like this: “Clyde, the beauty of faith is simply that we believe; nothing else is needed.” Why not climb up on the roof, dig through, drop a friend to the floor and expect a great outcome? It’s called faith.

Today, make room for “radical possibilities.” (Even the Cubs won a World Series). Allow Jesus to make the irrational rational, the nonsensical reasonable, the helpless hopeful, and the no-longer living alive in spirit. Welcome Jesus home with you, bring your senses to rapt attention, open your soul and fuel your belief with an unyielding faith.

Yes. Jesus is in the house.

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Prayer
Proverbs 24:3–4

“By wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled…”

We pray for an unmovable faith that welcomes you in the house.

Amen.

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Written by Clyde Yancy, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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