Tableaus of Healing

Jan. 25, 2015 This morning we are going to listen for a word from God in a way that will challenge some, spark some, and, I hope, inspire and enlighten at least a bit. I spent a full day last week at a liturgy and improv workshop, and it prompted me to try something different with the scripture this morning. So, a couple of quick notes and then one straight up reading to get us started. Improv sometimes uses “tableaus” – kind of “freeze” moments when the “actors” take a pose or position designed to help themselves and an audience feel the emotion of a scene or story better. It’s a variation on the game we’ve all played as or with kids: make a monster face; make a sad face. So, if I said, for example, make a “happy face” what would you look like? How about a “scared face”? How about a “pious face”? OK. With those faces in mind, I’m going to read you a very short story from Mark:

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven. ”Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 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, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

This story is set in the midst of a crowd – a big crowd in a small space. So I’m going to invite you all to join me up in the chancel to listen, a bit differently, for a word from God.

It’s always both tempting and risky to assume to role or perspective of Jesus when reading or interpreting gospel stories, but for this morning, with every possible caveat, I’m going to take us through this story from Mark’s gospel from the point of view of Jesus, pausing throughout for conversation with the various other “actors” in the scene.

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 

Put yourself in the crowd. Jesus is before you teaching. What pose do you take? What are you feeling? Why did you come? What did you expect?

Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

So, if you’re in the room and the roof starts getting pulled up, what do you do? What pose do you take? What are you thinking? What are you feeling? How about if you’re on the mat? How about if you’re among the four friends? Why did you come? What did you hope for?

Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 

Now imagine yourself as one of the scribes. What do they look like? What pose are they in? What are you feeling? Why did you come? What are you expecting?

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, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them;

You’re in the crowd again: take a pose. What are you feeling?

(Return to pews.)

so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

What would you say? If nothing else, perhaps you’ll at least say, “we have never seen anything like this.”

But, more seriously, as you leave here this morning, ask yourself what have I seen of the miracles of God? And how have I shared my experience with the world?

I know what I’ve seen here over these many years: I’ve seen the hungry filled with good things to eat; I’ve seen those blinded to so much have their eyes opened to a new way of seeing the world around them; I’ve seen the outcast brought into the center of the circle. This is good news! The world needs good news! Go out and share it. Amen.