SEVENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH

FURMAN UNIVERSITY  -  8, 10, 12 NOON & 6:30PM

FEBRUARY 22, 2009

May the Lord give us His peace.

For my own sake,  no flopping,  my friend mat.

For my own sake.  The Prophet Isaiah says that God is making things new.

We don’t always want new.  Some of us desperately need new.

The Catenas who sit in vigil over their son in a coma need new.

The long time jobless, my brother included, wait into taller stacks of bills.

They would love a new job.  But some have too much new right now.  A parishioner heard her most recent review had a low rating.  Another has a new empty seat at the table after feeding him for 24 years.  Yet another was told a new tumor is showing up on scans.  No, no, no – no new!

The Prophet also says for God, “I make a way in the desert.  And in the wasteland, a river.”  Yes God is making all things new.  The newest of all is pretty significant, and very, very good news.  God says through the Prophet Isaiah, “You have burdened me, wearied me, forgotten me.  I wipe out your offenses, forget them, I will remember them no more.”

Come what may, God intends to right the ship, making our sins, a blip. 

I will make all things new.  I will welcome you to myself.  And I will do it for my own sake, not because of some merit of yours.

No flopping.  Paul says his ministry, Silvanus and Timothy’s too, has not been floppy.  It has been a consistent YES! To God.  When God revealed what God wanted, no matter how unconventional, they said YES! 

Their Amen was in God’s power, and for His glory.  Yes Lord! we will preach to the Gentiles no matter how much the Jews condemn it.  Yes Lord! we will figure a way for Jesus to be made known to even the stranger.  Yes Lord!  What today requires your YES Lord!?  No flopping.

Keep in mind that you can look within and find that God has given His own Spirit.  It is an eternal, life giving Spirit.  It dwells in YOU.

For what?  To be a life-giving presence in the hard times.  A steady,

this Spirit does not FLOP.  And it your first gift.  More is coming.

My friend mat.  The paralyzed guy’s friends are not going to give up on their buddy.  They heard “Jesus the healer” is in town, but the crowds around Him are so thick, they worry they may have to let him down.  – Hey wait!  That’s it!  We’ll let him down through the roof!  The roof!

When Jesus sees these guys His heart swells with amazement at their faith.

The man is let down through the roof on a mat.  Paralyzed from birth he sits on His mat.  Jesus looks at Him.  How long you want to be with your friend mat?  “Not another day sir.”  Then pick up your mat and walk him.

Imagine if the paralytic was too dependent on mat.  Too dependent on sickness to heal.  What if mat was his friend?  No freedom could be gained!  But no, this man looks on JESUS and nothing is more significant.

Be careful about your mat.  When Jesus knocks don’t sit on it – get up!

Let’s say yes to a healing God over our sickness, over our weakness, our regret.  Let God in, let your friends and family let you down through the roof.  And be darned ready to get up.  Value the ill over the cure? 

Not you.

You know Him.  He comes.  Not because you and I deserve it,

but because He is God.  He does it for His own sake. 

And you feel it in the heart He gave you, how loved you are. 

This gift of release is only the first of many to come.  Imagine that.  Healed.  I wonder what is to come?

No doubt it’ll be loving someone, somehow.  And it’ll be messy.