seven::five

"Get up, you are healed. Your paralysis no longer binds you, and now you may lean on me in freedom and trust. Go now, you are made well."

The powerful words of Christ, God in flesh, flesh in God. We listen to his words and are strengthened and weakened at the same time. But the weakness is not a weakness that causes us to whither. No, it merely causes us to look ourself in the eyes, a practice the self-proclaimed strong are unwilling to do. They look into a mirror and see not themselves but a world to be conquered, or others to have dominion over, possessions they would never give up.

But the weak, they recognize they have come into this world with nothing. They can only form eternal relationships, become bound with the community of humanity, recognize their self in Christ and the other. They can give up the things that leave them paralyzed: fear, possessions, power. When we lack power, we are given strength to trust in God. When we give up hold of our stuff, we are held in the sustaining hands of God. When we relinquish our selves of fear, we are given freedom to love.

"Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Let your mind be freed, your disposition to be one of trust. You are healed. Get up, walk, go. You are made whole."

(Genesis 22:1-19, Psalm 115, Matthew 9:1-8)