"Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men." From Matthew's gospel we see Jesus revealing a new understanding of our relationship to his father and to eachother. In Jesus' day, I've been told, that if a person were afflicted with poor health, it was understood that that person was a sinner and that was God's judgement. In this story, Jesus shows us what authority we have as sons and daughters of God. Jesus got into trouble with the religious authorities of his day for healing people and claiming to have power from God. What wrath do we risk by reaching out to those who stand in the margins?
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