St Matthew 9: 1 – 8 And after getting into a boat he crossed the water and came to his own town. And just then some people were carrying a paralysed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ Then some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven”, 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 then said to the paralytic—‘Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.’ And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.
Reflection I wonder what the paralysed man thought when Jesus said to him “Take heart, your sins are forgiven”. Was it, “Thanks a lot, mate, that’s obviously what I was hoping for”? (note the sarcastic tone as you read that response!), or did he perhaps feel the weight of any guilt lift and recognise the grace and welcome that Jesus was offering him? I guess we’ll never know. But one thing was clear – the crowd were unimpressed. Words come easy sometimes, don’t they? And what evidence was there that this wasn’t just fake news anyway?
Though Jesus knew the veracity of his words, he also knew that sometimes actions do speak louder. Actions are more tangible. You could say that the miracle of healing he performed was, in reality, a much smaller thing than the awesome gift of forgiveness, knowing as we do that it is that grace that gives us eternal life, but for the crowd it was the visible outworking of Jesus’ power that confirmed there was something special about this man and the awesome God he claimed to represent.
What does this mean for us, then? Well, for me it is a stark reminder that I can say anything I like about God’s kingdom, God’s grace, God’s awesomeness, God’s love, but unless I back it up with my actions, with the way I live my life, then to everyone around me it’s just so many words. It’s meaningless, crazy babble. The quote that springs to mind is attributed to St Francis (probably incorrectly, but he’d probably have wished he said it!): “Preach the gospel at all times: if necessary, use words”. If we hope to share our faith with others and help them get to know Jesus for themselves, we need to show it in our actions and our attitudes.
Prayer Awesome and miraculous God, inspire us and empower us through your Spirit, not only to speak the good news but to BE the good news. Let us walk in your way, share your love, follow the example of Jesus, and put our faith into action, so that all may see that what we claim is true: You ARE an awesome and miraculous God. Amen
