A Sermon for the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
Rob Cavanna
Isaiah 43:18-25
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Mark 2:1-12
It was Monday, May 11, 1998, an ordinary spring day in Minnesota, and Thad was on a ladder finishing some house painting for one of his customers. Thad fell, not very far, but landed on his head on concrete. Fortunately for him, there were people nearby who saw what had happened and who called for an ambulance. The ambulance arrived within minutes and the medics, the ETM's, recognized the seriousness of the situation and took him to Region's Hospital in St. Paul where he was admitted to Intensive Care.
Anne, his mother, had just returned to St. Cloud from the funeral of her niece who had been brutally murdered in California. Her niece, a young and recently married physician, was killed by a worker in her home. Now, Anne had to rush to St. Paul for another tragedy, for Thad was in a coma induced by the doctors in hopes of saving his life from a serious brain trauma. The prognosis was not good and the pressure on his brain would spike dangerously up and down in the days to come.
For the next two and a half weeks, Ann and her family endured an emotional rollercoaster. During this time, a prayer circle was begun at St. John's, her church community, with many members praying for Thad and his family. Other prayer groups in other churches far away joined in praying for Thad. Anne prayed that God's will be done, but a friend urged her to pray for what she truly wanted. With that support, she then felt it alright to ask for God for Thad's complete recovery.
When we look at today's Gospel, we see that forgiveness is the theological issue of the text, but that intercession is the major practical issue. The Gospel dramatizes active intercession which can be called advocacy. The paralyzed man's friends are willing to do whatever it takes to bring him into Jesus' presence. If you can't get to Jesus through the front door, go in through the roof. Their actions were prayers expressing faith, hope and love.
This is exactly what Anne, her family, and her entire circle of friends were doing on Thad's behalf. They were praying unceasingly for Thad's recovery. I can remember myself being so overwhelmed and emotionally distraught just getting close to Thad's bed and watching him lay motionless and in a coma. I left the hospital one night praying for a miracle. Many others were also praying for a miracle.
After more than two weeks, a new team of doctors came on the scene and told Anne that her family was too hopeful! They recommended reducing medications, and even suggested that if Thad were to survive, he might not have a quality of life, and could be in a nursing home. They even spoke to his mother of shutting off life support.
Luckily, it never came to this point. Anne continued to pray, and now to Kerri, her niece who had just died, to be with Thad and to help him recover. Soon after, a priest friend held a Communion Service in the hospital chapel.
On a Saturday morning, Thad's medications were greatly reduced. Twelve hours later they administered a coma stimulation test for response. Thad's right arm bent upwards which was a good sign!
The following morning Thad opened his eyes. The doctors stopped all paralyzing medication. Jenny, his girlfriend, had been carrying his eyeglasses since he was in the hospital. Once she put them on him, he could see so well he was elated. He was lifted into a chair and so began a slow, but remarkable recovery.
Mark says in the Gospel that Jesus "saw their faith." Jesus saw the "faith" of all the praying communities praying for Thad's healing. If anything this Gospel teaches, it is that we need to pray for others and we need others to pray for us. The paralytic wasn't healed as a reward for his own private faith, but because Jesus was moved by the faith of his community.
Yet, Jesus' first action, pronouncing the paralyzed man's forgiveness, may not have been exactly what his advocates were hoping for their friend. God's response to community intercession may not always be what we ask for or expect, but by faith we trust God's mercy.
It took faith to bring the man to Jesus for healing in the same way it took faith to pray to God for Thad's complete recovery. Faith was necessary both to intercede and to praise God for mercy.
Never underestimate the power of prayer!! Episcopalians are "people of the Book" and of prayer. Do you pray every day–do you pray in thanksgiving for your life and all its blessings; do you pray for others? Prayer is not just for Sunday mornings, or for a church building. Prayer is the spiritual food that gives us the energy and grace to go out in to the world and be a "healing" presence in the midst of brokeness and despair.
Pray without ceasing. Let your daily work and actions be a prayer and an offering to God for the poor, the sick, the hungry and the oppressed.
Thad walked out of Region's Hospital 6 weeks after May 11, 1998. He was 55 pounds lighter and went through 8 months of rehabilitation. He married Jenny, his girlfriend, in May 1999 and now has a beautiful baby daughter and is living in Stillwater.
A miracle happened that year for Thad and his family thanks to the faith of many people.
There are many more miracles waiting to happen around us. Let the miraculous power of prayer touch your life and the lives of those around you. It may produce miracles both big and small. You may not fall off a ladder, but you may be suffering from depression, alcoholism, poor marital relations or financial troubles. Turn your problems over to Jesus and ask for healing. You might be surprised at the results!