This healing story is one most of us have heard before, but it is the shorter version. We see the more detailed version in Luke 5 or Mark 2. It is the story of a paralyzed man, who’s friends pick up his mat, dig thru the ceiling, and get him to Jesus. When Jesus sees the faith of the friends who helped the man, he forgives the man and heals him.

 

It is important for us to see the role the men played in this story. None of this could have happened if they did not decide to take action, if they don’t decide to see struggle and help. Our lives today are filled with busyness and clutter, distractions and annoyances. Advent used to be a reflective time for us to continually think of the hope we have in Jesus. Now, we have filled it up with shopping and obligations.

When these men saw the hope this man had in Jesus they got him to a roof and dug through to get him there. What is it that stops us from helping others in our lives? During this advent are we looking for those who need hope, or are we trying to “get our stuff done?” Are we willing to go the extra mile for others, or do we only have enough time for our things? God calls us to be part of others faith as well, just like these men who helped. When we try to keep our faith to ourselves we lose sight of the hope that Jesus offers to us all.