Faithful Pathways: Irony

I love Jesus's snark. You miss it unless you look closely. But there it is. Fully human...you bet.

So this story in Mark 2 is friends "making it happen" for their paralyzed friend. They stop at nothing to get their friend to Jesus. They tear through the roof, lower the man on his mat and expect Jesus to heal him. Jesus is impressed.

He says to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven." OK...not what we expected, but if you trust Jesus enough to tear the roof off to get to him, you will take what is offered.

Not the scribes...they "question in their hearts." Perhaps they are the first political advisors...thinking constantly how to tear into the other guys message and discredit him. "Why does Jesus say that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Perhaps a point...but we also forgive each other, do we not?

And instead of trying to reason with them, confront them, or some other expected response, Jesus snipes, "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'?"

Now, as difficult as forgiving each other is...still easier than healing a paralytic, no? And the guy gets up, rolls up his mat, and walks away.

Can we live like Jesus asks--loving God and neighbor as ourselves? Not worrying about what we will wear? Loving our enemies, not just our friends? living generously? Most people say no. Not possible. Can't be done. Crazy to think about it.

But wouldn't it be the ultimate, delicious irony to do just that? OK...not easy. But I really like the challenge and the joy of living out the irony...