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WEEKLY BULLETIN 4th SUNDAY From EASTER

Of The PARALYTIC

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ Δ΄ από του ΠΑΣΧΑ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΡΑΛΥΤΟΥ

Όρθρος/Sunday Orthros: 8:45 π.μ. Θ. Λειτουργία/D. Liturgy: 10:00 π.μ. Presiding Priest: Fr. Nicholas Dassouras 10 Μαΐου 2020 10 May 2020

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Ήχος γ΄ – Εωθινόν Ε΄ • Tone: 3rd – Morning Gospel: 5th Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, Κυριακῇ τετάρτῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ Πάσχα,

τοῦ Παραλύτου μνείαν ποιούμεθα καὶ ὡς εἰκὸς τὸ τοιοῦτον ἑορτάζομεν θαῦμα.

On this day, the fourth Sunday of Pascha, we remember the Paralytic,

and appropriately celebrate the miracle worked on him. ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΒΔΟΜΑΔΟΣ

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Τετάρτη 13 Μαΐου –8:00 π.μ.: Όρθρος & Θ. Λειτουργία Εορτής Μεσοπεντηκοστής

Wednesday, May 13th - 8:00 a.m.: Orthros & D. Liturgy for the Feast of Mid-Pentecost

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Dear Members of our Church, This year our church needs your help, more than ever, due to the extraordinary situation caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

You can help us by making an Easter Offering, buying an Lamb Raffle, and/or Lighting a Candle Online, thus supporting our Church. You can make an Easter Offering and Light a Candle Online by visiting our website: www.stgeorgect.org/giving

PLEASE ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO DO THE SAME

WE ARE, CONTINUALLY, PRAYING FOR YOU!

Candles to be lit upon request!

Father Nicholas will light a candle for you. If you are interested, go to our website: www.stgeorgect.org/giving

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THE ALTAR FLOWERS TODAY ARE DONATED TO THE GLORY OF GOD:

IN HONOR OF YANNI & BRINA PAPAKOSMAS’

BIRTHDAYS

Ἀπολυτίκιον της Πάσχα, Ἦχος πλ. α' Χριστὸς ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καὶ τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι, ζωὴν χαρισάμενος. Έτερον Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἦχος γ' Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐῤῥύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Ἀπολυτίκιον Κτητορικόν, Ἦχος α' Ο καιρούς τε και χρόνους κυβερνών Πάτερ Άναρχε· Ου ως η Ημέρα η μία έτη χίλια πέφυκεν· Εν Norwalk, Connecticut ποίμνην· στερέωσον πληρώσασα καλώς· πλήρη κύκλων ενιαυτών· κραυγάζουσα και λέγουσα· φύλαττε Υπερούσιε Τριάς· ταύτην την εκλογάδα Σου· Άμεμπτον & Θεοφιλή· Γεωργίου ταις Εντεύξεσι· Απολυτίκιον Αγίου Γεωργίου, Hχος δ’. Ὡς τῶν αἰχμαλώτων ἐλευθερωτὴς καὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστής, ἀσθενούντων ἰατρός, βασιλέων ὑπέρμαχος, Τροπαιοφόρε Μεγαλομάρτυς Γεώργιε, πρεσβεῦε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τάς ψυχὰς ἠμῶν. Κοντάκιον,Ἦχος πλ. δ' Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος. Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.

Αpolytikion of Εaster, Plagal First Tone Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. Other Αpolytikion, of the Feast, Third Tone Let the heavens sing for joy and let everything on earth be glad. For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. He trampled death under foot by means of death; and He became the firstborn from the dead. From the maw of Hades He delivered us; and He granted the world His great mercy. Αpolytikion Ktetorikon, Tone First Father without beginning, the One Who governs the seasons and all time; for you a thousand years is as but one day. Strengthen your people in Norwalk, Connecticut that has endured well throughout the years, and cries out to you, saying: Trinity beyond Being, at the prayers of St. George, protect, this, Your chosen flock to be blameless and faithful. Αpolytikion for St. George, Tone Fourth As the one renowned for setting captives free, and for defending those in poverty, the physician of the sick and the champion of kings, do thou, o Victory-bearer and Great Martyr George, intercede to Christ our God for the salvation of our souls. Kontakion, Tone Plagal Fourth Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.

The Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42

IN THOSE DAYS, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So, Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Αποστολικόν Ανάγνωσμα: Eκ των Πράξεων των Αποστόλων 9:32-42

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, ἐγένετο Πέτρον διερχόμενον διὰ πάντων κατελθεῖν καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἁγίους τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Λύδδαν. Εὗρε δὲ ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπόν τινα ὀνόματι Αἰνέαν ἐξ ἐτῶν ὀκτὼ κατακείμενον ἐπὶ κραβάττῳ, ὃς ἦν παραλελυμένος. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος· Αἰνέα, ἰᾶταί σε Ἰησοῦς Χριστός· ἀνάστηθι καὶ στρῶσον σεαυτῷ.

Καὶ εὐθέως ἀνέστη. Καὶ εἶδον αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες Λύδδαν καὶ τὸν Σάρωνα, οἵτινες ἐπέστρεψαν ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον. 'Εν Ἰόππῃ δέ τις ἦν μαθήτρια ὀνόματι Ταβιθά, ἣ διερμηνευομένη λέγεται Δορκάς· αὕτη ἦν πλήρης ἔργων ἀγαθῶν καὶ ἐλεημοσυνῶν ὧν ἐποίει. Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἀσθενήσασαν αὐτὴν ἀποθανεῖν· λούσαντες δὲ αὐτὴν ἔθηκαν ἐν ὑπερῴῳ. Ἐγγὺς δὲ οὔσης Λύδδης τῇ Ἰόππῃ οἱ μαθηταὶ ἀκούσαντες ὅτι Πέτρος ἐστὶν ἐν αὐτῇ, ἀπέστειλαν δύο ἄνδρας πρὸς αὐτὸν παρακαλοῦντες μὴ ὀκνῆσαι διελθεῖν ἕως αὐτῶν. Ἀναστὰς δὲ Πέτρος συνῆλθεν αὐτοῖς· ὃν παραγενόμενον ἀνήγαγον εἰς τὸ ὑπερῷον, καὶ παρέστησαν αὐτῷ πᾶσαι αἱ χῆραι κλαίουσαι καὶ ἐπιδεικνύμεναι χιτῶνας καὶ ἱμάτια ὅσα ἐποίει μετ' αὐτῶν οὖσα ἡ Δορκάς. Ἐκβαλὼν δὲ ἔξω πάντας ὁ Πέτρος καὶ θεὶς τὰ γόνατα προσηύξατο, καὶ ἐπιστρέψας πρὸς τὸ σῶμα εἶπε· Ταβιθά, ἀνάστηθι. Ἡ δὲ ἤνοιξε τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῆς, καὶ ἰδοῦσα τὸν Πέτρον ἀνεκάθισε. Δοὺς δὲ αὐτῇ χεῖρα ἀνέστησεν αὐτήν, φωνήσας δὲ τοὺς ἁγίους καὶ τὰς χήρας παρέστησεν αὐτὴν ζῶσαν. Γνωστὸν δὲ ἐγένετο καθ' ὅλης τῆς Ἰόππης, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν πολλοὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον.

Νέο-Ελληνική Απόδοση Εκείνες τις μέρες, Περνώντας ο Πέτρος απ’ όλες αυτές τις εκκλησίες, κατέβηκε και στους χριστιανούς που κατοικούσαν στη Λύδδα. Εκεί βρήκε κάποιον άνθρωπο που λεγόταν Αινέας. Αυτός ήταν οχτώ χρόνια κατάκοιτος, επειδή ήταν παράλυτος. Ο Πέτρος του είπε: «Αινέα σε γιατρεύει ο Ιησούς Χριστός. Σήκω και στρώσε το κρεβάτι σου». Κι αυτός αμέσως σηκώθηκε. Όλοι όσοι κατοικούσαν στη Λύδδα και στο Σάρωνα τον είδαν και δέχτηκαν τον Ιησού για Κύριό τους. Στην Ιόππη ήταν μια μαθήτρια που την έλεγαν Ταβιθά –στα ελληνικά σημαίνει «Δορκάδα». Αυτή είχε κάνει πολλές αγαθοεργίες και ελεημοσύνες. Εκείνες τις μέρες συνέβη να

αρρωστήσει και να πεθάνει. Την έλουσαν, λοιπόν, και την έβαλαν στο ανώγειο. Η Λύδδα ήταν κοντά στην Ιόππη, και, όταν οι μαθητές άκουσαν ότι ο Πέτρος ήταν εκεί, του έστειλαν δύο άντρες και τον παρακαλούσαν να πάει σ’ αυτούς όσο γίνεται πιο γρήγορα. Αυτός ξεκίνησε και πήγε μαζί τους. Μόλις έφτασε, τον ανέβασαν στο ανώγειο. Αμέσως τον περικύκλωσαν όλες οι χήρες κλαίγοντας και δείχνοντάς του τα ρούχα που είχε φτιάξει γι’ αυτούς η Δορκάδα όσο ζούσε. Ο Πέτρος τότε τους έβγαλε όλους έξω, γονάτισε και προσευχήθηκε. Κατόπιν γύρισε στη νεκρή και της είπε: «Ταβιθά, σήκω πάνω». Αυτή άνοιξε τα μάτια της, κι όταν είδε τον Πέτρο ανασηκώθηκε. Ο Πέτρος της έδωσε το χέρι του και τη σήκωσε. Ύστερα φώναξε τους πιστούς και τις χήρες και τους την παρουσίασε ζωντανή. Αυτό έγινε γνωστό σ’ όλη την Ιόππη, και πολλοί πίστεψαν στον Κύριο.

The Gospel Reading is from John 5:1-15 At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going, another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the sabbath. So, the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet."

But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' " They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Ευαγγελικόν Ανάγνωσμα: Eκ του κατά Ιωάννην 5:1-15 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἀνέβη ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα. ἔστι δὲ ἐν τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐπὶ τῇ προβατικῇ κολυμβήθρα, ἡ ἐπιλεγομένη Ἑβραϊστὶ Βηθεσδά, πέντε στοὰς ἔχουσα. ἐν ταύταις κατέκειτο πλῆθος τῶν ἀσθενούντων, τυφλῶν, χωλῶν, ξηρῶν, ἐκδεχομένων τὴν τοῦ ὕδατος κίνησιν. ἄγγελος γὰρ κατὰ καιρὸν κατέβαινεν ἐν τῇ κολυμβήθρᾳ, καὶ ἐταράσσετο τὸ ὕδωρ· ὁ οὖν πρῶτος ἐμβὰς μετὰ τὴν ταραχὴν τοῦ ὕδατος ὑγιὴς ἐγίνετο ᾧ δήποτε κατείχετο νοσήματι. ἦν δέ τις ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖ τριάκοντα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη ἔχων ἐν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ αὐτοῦ. τοῦτον ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς κατακείμενον, καὶ γνοὺς ὅτι πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον ἔχει, λέγει αὐτῷ· Θέλεις ὑγιὴς γενέσθαι; ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ἀσθενῶν· Κύριε, ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἔχω, ἵνα ὅταν ταραχθῇ τὸ ὕδωρ, βάλῃ με εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν· ἐν ᾧ δὲ ἔρχομαι ἐγὼ, ἄλλος πρὸ ἐμοῦ καταβαίνει. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ἔγειρε, ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει. καὶ εὐθέως ἐγένετο ὑγιὴς ὁ ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ἦρε τὸν κράβαττον αὐτοῦ καὶ περιεπάτει. ἦν δὲ σάββατον ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ. ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τῷ τεθεραπευμένῳ· Σάββατόν ἐστιν· οὐκ ἔξεστί σοι ἆραι τὸν κράβαττον. ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς· Ὁ ποιήσας με ὑγιῆ, ἐκεῖνός μοι εἶπεν· ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει. ἠρώτησαν οὖν αὐτόν· Τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ εἰπών σοι, ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ὁ δὲ ἰαθεὶς οὐκ ᾔδει τίς ἐστιν· ὁ γὰρ Ἰησοῦς ἐξένευσεν ὄχλου ὄντος ἐν τῷ τόπῳ. μετὰ ταῦτα εὑρίσκει αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἴδε ὑγιὴς γέγονας· μηκέτι ἁμάρτανε, ἵνα μὴ χεῖρόν σοί τι γένηται. ἀπῆλθεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἀνήγγειλε τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὸν ὑγιῆ.

Νέο-Ελληνική Απόδοση Ύστερα απ’ αυτά, οι Ιουδαίοι είχαν μια γιορτή, κι ο Ιησούς ανέβηκε στα Ιεροσόλυμα. Κοντά στην προβατική πύλη, στα Ιεροσόλυμα, υπάρχει μια δεξαμενή με πέντε στοές, που εβραϊκά ονομάζεται Βηθεσδά. Σ’ αυτές τις στοές κείτονταν πολλοί άρρωστοι, τυφλοί, κουτσοί, παράλυτοι, που περίμεναν να αναταραχθεί το νερό· γιατί, από καιρό σε καιρό, ένας άγγελος Κυρίου κατέβαινε στη δεξαμενή κι ανατάραζε τα νερά· όποιος, λοιπόν, έμπαινε πρώτος μετά την αναταραχή του νερού, αυτός γινόταν καλά, όποια κι αν ήταν η αρρώστια που τον ταλαιπωρούσε. Εκεί ήταν κι ένας άνθρωπος, άρρωστος τριάντα οκτώ ολόκληρα χρόνια. Όταν τον είδε ο Ιησούς κατάκοιτο, τον ρώτησε: «Θέλεις να γίνεις καλά;» Ήξερε πως ήταν έτσι για πολύν καιρό. «Κύριε», του αποκρίθηκε ο άρρωστος, «δεν έχω κανέναν να με βάλει στη δεξαμενή μόλις αναταραχτούν τα νερά· έτσι, ενώ εγώ προσπαθώ να πλησιάσω μόνος μου, πάντοτε κάποιος άλλος κατεβαίνει στο νερό πριν από μένα». Ο Ιησούς του λέει: «Σήκω πάνω, πάρε το κρεβάτι σου και περπάτα». Κι αμέσως ο άνθρωπος έγινε καλά, σήκωσε το κρεβάτι του και περπατούσε.

Η μέρα που έγινε αυτό ήταν Σάββατο. Έλεγαν, λοιπόν, οι Ιουδαίοι άρχοντες στο θεραπευμένο: «Είναι Σάββατο, και δεν επιτρέπεται να σηκώνεις το κρεβάτι σου». Αυτός όμως τους απάντησε: «Εκείνος που μ’ έκανε καλά, εκείνος μου είπε “πάρε το κρεβάτι σου και περπάτα”». Τον ρώτησαν: «Ποιος είναι ο άνθρωπος που σου είπε “πάρε το και περπάτα;” Ο θεραπευμένος όμως δεν ήξερε να πει ποιος ήταν, επειδή ο Ιησούς είχε φύγει απαρατήρητος εξαιτίας του πλήθους που ήταν μαζεμένο εκεί. Αργότερα ο Ιησούς τον βρήκε στο ναό και του είπε: «Βλέπεις, έχεις γίνει καλά· από ’δω και πέρα μην αμαρτάνεις, για να μην πάθεις τίποτα χειρότερο». Ο άνθρωπος έφυγε αμέσως κι ανάγγειλε στους Ιουδαίους άρχοντες ότι ο Ιησούς ήταν αυτός που τον γιάτρεψε.

What Kind of Paralytic Are You?

teaches us something serious about ourselves: We’re often less like the paralytic’s friends and more like the paralytic himself.

Here are four ways that can be the case, and four ways Jesus helps us.

1. If it’s “too crowded” near Jesus, we don’t feel like bothering.

Maybe you’re too distracted by your to-do list to go to church on Sunday morning. Or too numb to care about someone’s prayer or counsel. Or too preoccupied with your own shortcomings to lead your family in worship. If there’s a barrier in the way, we sometimes don’t bother to go to Jesus.

When this happens, it’s often because we realize no one is impressed by our effort, so we turn to cheap alternatives. We let the joy of Christian service and devotion get steamrolled by distraction or pride. But in Christ, we’re both called and equipped to walk by the Spirit, freed from the lazy inclinations of the flesh (Gal. 5:16–18; Rom 7:6).

When we read the story of Jesus and the paralytic lowered through the roof (Mark 2:1–12), we usually focus on the loving persistence of the paralytic’s friends or on Jesus’s “which is easier” question and subsequent miracle.

But this story also

https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal.%205.16%E2%80%9318https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Rom%207.6https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mark%202.1%E2%80%9312https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mark%202.1%E2%80%9312

2. Many of our best moments with Jesus happen because of our friends.

The paralytic’s friends do what the paralytic can’t do himself. Nothing will stop them. They’ll patch the roof themselves if it comes to it. “Just get him to Jesus and we’ll sort it out later,” they say.

We can all think of friends (simple friends and our priest) who have helped us see our sinful patterns, who kept inviting us to church during a season of absence, and who consistently helped us process things we were too scared to by ourselves. The best times of spiritual growth in our lives often happen thanks to stubborn friends.

That’s why we have the local church, which is full of brothers and sisters who are born for adversity (Prov. 17:17). Jesus has given us to one another to share our burdens, even when we'd rather ignore or gripe about them (Gal. 6:2). Sometimes we are the burden that our friends are carrying, and they’re taking us to Jesus.

3. We begrudge our friends as they’re taking us to Jesus. I’m guessing the paralytic was embarrassed and frustrated. It was commonly believed at the time that disability meant you were guilty of serious sin or cursed by God (John 9:1–3). It’s a flawed idea (see Ps. 146:8; Lev. 19:14; Jer. 30:17), but it was popular. So, on top of the physical misery, the paralytic almost certainly endured financial poverty, social rejection, and religious contempt. Perhaps he was eager to get to Jesus. Or perhaps he was disillusioned and embittered and wanted to be left alone. Some of the time, in the moments our stubborn friends are hauling us to Jesus, we begrudge them because we’re embarrassed. Maybe we roll our eyes at a platitude meant to

https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gal.%206.2https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%209.1%E2%80%933https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps.%20146.8https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lev.%2019.14https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Jer.%2030.17

comfort. Maybe we resent feeling compelled to pray with someone. Maybe we doubt it’s worth their time, much less our own. When our friends take us to Jesus, sometimes we resent it.

In moments like this, our souls are as stone-like as they can be this side of regeneration (Ezek. 36:26). We’re suspended between the grace of God and the abyss of apathy. Shame or anger over our own weaknesses is a vicious trap. But Jesus meets us in our darkest places to heal our damaged hearts and restore his salvation joy (Col. 3:8–10; Ps. 51:8).

4. We still carry our mat around.

After he’s been forgiven and healed, Jesus tells the man to pick up his mat and go home (Mark 2:11). Perhaps Jesus knew the mat would be a token of authenticity and proof of God’s power. In this sense, we all carry a “mat”—a testimony of our conversion, physical or emotional scars, memories of suffering we’ve endured. These “mats” reflect our Savior’s love and power.

But sometimes we don’t carry our mat that way. Sometimes we carry it because we suspect we might need it again. We wonder if God’s work in us will actually last. We’re secretly planning to lay on it out of habit. Whatever the case, here’s the good news: Jesus not only heals us, he also lifts our burdens when we’re exhausted and afraid of change (Matt. 11:28–29). We can trust him to powerfully and safely care for us in our weakness, relieving our doubts and fears (Ps. 55:22; Phil. 4:5–6). We are freed to go forth with nothing but the wonderful yoke we bear in service to our Savior (Matt. 11:29–30; Rom. 6:22).

Redeemed Paralytics

The paralytic in Mark 2 isn’t just an object lesson. He was a seriously broken person who was forgiven and healed by his Maker. Jesus doesn’t merely “use” opportunities to fix us as a pedestal to exalt himself. He does

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more. He patiently waits to revive our deadest parts, all while shouldering cosmic burdens.

No matter how spiritually mature or disciplined we might be, we’re all paralytics at times. Grumpy, helpless, reluctant, embarrassed. But Jesus delights to serve us anyway. He redeemed us, and he is sending us home at last. And he patiently and persistently invites us to let our paralysis be made perfect in himself (2 Cor. 12:9).

Jesus joyfully anticipates us as he’s trying to focus and teach in a hot, smelly room full of devotees, paparazzi, and skeptics. He patiently waits to revive the deadest parts of us while he shoulders cosmic burdens. He lovingly serves us after dirt and roofing debris fall down on him and we come limp and uninvited through the ceiling.

Come to him and let him fill you with his strength.

Adopted by William Ross

https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Cor.%2012.9

See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you.”

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