TUESDAY, THIRD WEEK OF LENT

The Son of Man Forgives Sins

“…Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—“I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up…
Mark 2: 9-12a

Various points in life offer themselves to us as opportunities for a fresh start: enrolling at a new school, moving, making a career change, welcoming New Year’s Day with a list of resolutions. I have had the best of intentions to get organized, have better posture, eat healthier, “seize the day,” talk more, talk less, quit stressing. And I continue to learn the truth of Alec Guinness’ wry comment, “The bad habits of a lifetime, when tackled head on, seem only to bend, not break.”

My clean-slate optimism is equally forthcoming each week in worship as we say, “In Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.” Maybe this time I’ll go my way and sin no more. It would seem, however, that my sins are just as flexible as my bad habits. So it’s a comfort to know there’s a new second chance right around the corner. Perhaps too much of a comfort. Because what I usually fail to recognize is that there’s also a chance right now, a chance to live toward God rather than myself. Perhaps it IS easier for Jesus to say “Your sins are forgiven” than it is for us to get up and start acting like it.

Can you hear the Son of Man say, “Your sins are forgiven. Get up and go home.”? Who is he? How will you respond?

Gracious God, your forgiveness is so much more precious than I usually treat it. And it is so much more forthcoming than my own feeble attempts to show mercy. Help me to live as a human being who IS forgiven and who therefore seeks to live with greater honesty, courage and love. Amen.