Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem
Mark 2
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
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New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Yesterday's disturbing news about a Chinese Spy Balloon may not seem at all related to Today's Reading. And yet, a flood of memories washed over me as I prepared today's stories:
1. U2 is Not Just a Rock Band: In 1960, a U2 Spy Plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. This caused a huge diplomatic crisis, and the President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, had to admit that the United States was flying Spy Plains over the USSR. The Pilot, Francis Gary Powers (1929-77), was convicted of espionage in the USSR, and was sentenced to ten years. However, he ended up being exchanged for a Soviet Spy two years later, and became a precedent for "Spy-Swaps" that went on afterwards in the Cold War. I was in the Fourth Grade when this happened, and remember the embarrassment of my Country being "Caught in the Act" of spying. I didn't realize at the time the tremendous threat the USSR was, and that it had been necessary for our government to break through the "iron roof" over Russia to obtain information about their Nuclear Capabilities. It was a matter of life or death.
2. Another Cold War Surprise: Looking back on the Internet, I am told that Sputnik was launched just a week before my fifth birthday, on October 4th, 1957. So why do I remember it so clearly? Why would a five-year-old care about a little thing the size of a Beach Ball, circling the Earth every 98 minutes, way up there in Space? It was as though the protective roof over my country had been broken through, and that the Communists could do whatever they wanted. Never was a little ball the cause of so much childhood angst!
3. Breaking Through: Dad, who worked in a mysterious job in the Phone Company, brought home a little piece of foil from work. He handed it to me and said:
"See if you can tear this. I'll bet you can't!"
Well, I tried, but couldn't tear it. I wiggled it, and twisted it, and folded it. Even with all my concentration, it too me three solid days of manipulation to finally get it to tear apart. As I presented my triumph to Dad, he explained that this was the material developed to get our first answer to Sputnik, a balloon-shaped satellite called "Echo 1". (August 1960) While this satellite was passive and could only reflect signals back to Earth, it was comforting to know that we could send something up there too. What was cool about Echo 1 was that it could be seen with the naked eye as it passed over my house. I liked that I could actually SEE it as it passed over my roof, and that I had been involved in "testing" the material used to make it.
That got me interested in the Space Program, and I followed it closely for many years. The Moon Landing was the thrill of my life.
4. A Roof Over Our Heads: All large cities have a problem with homeless people, but it is especially difficult in the Northeast. Just This Weekend, we had Wind-Chill Factors approaching -Double Digits, and the City of Boston set up "Warming Centers" to keep people fom freezing to death on the streets. Our Power went out Friday Evening, and, for a very tense half-hour, I was concerned about pipes freezing, and the possibility of gathering up the Dog and driving to my brother's house 26 miles away. It was pretty scary. It brought the thought of those who do not even have a "Roof Over Their Heads". They have it so much worse than I. Today is a balmy day in the 20's and I am grateful.
The "Roof Over Our Heads" means so much. It designates Home, Security, Warmth, Protection, and a certain amount of Sovereignty. We have a lot of expressions about it:
"All I Need is a Roof Over My Head."
"As Long As You Are Under My Roof, You'll Do What I Say."
"Can you believe this was going on UNDER MY ROOF?"
And So On.
The people who lowered the Paralyzed Man through a hole they made in the roof were thinking unconventually and with great determination. Not only were they doing a difficult construction job (Middle-Eastern Roof were so strong you could use them as a patio), but they were breaking all the moral taboos of their culture to do this one act. You DON'T just go up on somebody's ROOF and poke a hole in it. This is an Invasion of the worst kind.
But, they couldn't get into the house any other way, because of the crowds. Somebody was in the house that they HAD to see. Somehow they knew that the Property Damage that they would cause would pale in comparison to the Great Miracle they expected, without reservation.
Sometimes we have to break through the roof to see Jesus. Customs, Traditions, Personal Opinions, Fear, Safety Issues, and even Shelter Needs pale in comparison to Eternal Life, Forgiveness, and Healing.
What Roofs are sanding n your way? It's a Matter of Life ad Death.
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)
God Bless America.
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS