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Morning Devotion for the Season of Easter

April 28, 2023

The Invitatory

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Reading: Luke 5: 17-26

One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting nearby (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. Just then some men came, carrying a paralysed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, ‘Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the one who was paralysed—‘I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.’ Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today.’

Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones

Remarkable on several levels! Never underestimate the power of one’s faith, and, perhaps in this instance, of friendship and/or love. This is a moving, powerful act of dogged devotion and determination on the parts of these men to bring the paralyzed man to Jesus. We have no idea of the relationship these men share, but it is clear that they are on a mission from which they will not be deterred. Think of the strength it would require to carry the sick man whatever distance to the house where Jesus was speaking, and the temerity to climb the roof and painstakingly (I hope) to remove the tiles and lower their friend into the house, expecting what? They have met the challenges of physical and material barriers in order to bring this paralyzed man into the midst of power. And yet Jesus immediately recognized their expectations and healed the paralyzed man.

The healing is welcome and appreciated but Jesus’ accompanying words might strike one as puzzling. When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ This is a very bold statement especially given how many leaders are present for this healing. The presence of the Pharisees is not lost on Jesus as he responds directly to them in his powerful words of healing. ‘I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.’ Standing before all fully in the power of his glorification of God, Jesus ushers in the cure for this paralyzed man.

Quickly falling on the heels of the healing comes Jesus’ power to forgive sins. The two powers seem related. In fact, it appears that this is the true issue of concern here, that overtakes and supersedes the healing that has taken place. And this is altogether appropriate for reflection during the Easter season. What is very apparent here is the physical freedom that the former paralyzed man will enjoy. What he and all others will live into is the freedom from sin and fear and all that separates and divides us from God and from one another.

This is the first occasion for this realization and the crowd’s reaction is entirely appropriate. They are amazed. In fact, the reaction overtakes them, as it “seized all of them.” What power has been thrust into their very being! How could they not resist both a giving God and from such a human vantage point acknowledge their limitations in observing that they “have seen strange things today.” This was a life changing experience for the paralyzed man and all who witnessed this and understood and accepted Jesus’ power to forgive sins. The full implications of this will dawn much later.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.