Comments on: The Paralytic “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk!” http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/05/10/the-paralytic-rise-take-up-thy-bed-and-walk/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:35:39 +0000 hourly 1 By: Deborah http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/05/10/the-paralytic-rise-take-up-thy-bed-and-walk/comment-page-1/#comment-1815 Deborah Sun, 10 May 2009 22:45:36 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=862#comment-1815 Father, Bless, "....the narcotic stream of life" That is such an accurate description. The trouble is that that "stream of life" is not only our drug but also the thing that drives us to the narcotic. We are overwhelmed by the uncontrollable stream of life that rushes towards us, leaving us terrified and beat up. But if we stay in the turbulent, rapid stream long enough, we will be knocked unconscious against the rocks and simply be carried along by the current. We are crippled by our sins and the terror of our paralysis causes us to seek relief in more sin. We are like the man who drinks to forget that he is a drunkard... It is hard to break this cycle. I think only God can break it--only He can revive the unconscious man who is being carried downstream, slowly drowning. But all it takes is a little awareness. We do not need to be awake enough to fight against the current. We need only be aware enough to recognize that we are drowning and to cry out to the Lord to save us. It may be "two steps forward, one and half steps back" each year. Each year during Lent we may become more aware of our sins and each year after Pascha we may slowly be lulled back into a state of semi-consciousness. But if we do not lose all of our progress, we will still move forward. I am not saying this is ideal. It would be better if we would not look in the mirror and then turn around and forget about the image we just saw. But if we continuously look in the mirror and each time try to retain as much of the image as we can, then eventually, over time, the image that we retain in our minds, the image that guides our actions, will look more and more like the reflection of the God in whose image we were made. Father, Bless,

“….the narcotic stream of life”

That is such an accurate description. The trouble is that that “stream of life” is not only our drug but also the thing that drives us to the narcotic. We are overwhelmed by the uncontrollable stream of life that rushes towards us, leaving us terrified and beat up. But if we stay in the turbulent, rapid stream long enough, we will be knocked unconscious against the rocks and simply be carried along by the current.

We are crippled by our sins and the terror of our paralysis causes us to seek relief in more sin. We are like the man who drinks to forget that he is a drunkard…

It is hard to break this cycle. I think only God can break it–only He can revive the unconscious man who is being carried downstream, slowly drowning. But all it takes is a little awareness. We do not need to be awake enough to fight against the current. We need only be aware enough to recognize that we are drowning and to cry out to the Lord to save us.

It may be “two steps forward, one and half steps back” each year. Each year during Lent we may become more aware of our sins and each year after Pascha we may slowly be lulled back into a state of semi-consciousness. But if we do not lose all of our progress, we will still move forward.

I am not saying this is ideal. It would be better if we would not look in the mirror and then turn around and forget about the image we just saw. But if we continuously look in the mirror and each time try to retain as much of the image as we can, then eventually, over time, the image that we retain in our minds, the image that guides our actions, will look more and more like the reflection of the God in whose image we were made.

]]> By: RJ Daum http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/05/10/the-paralytic-rise-take-up-thy-bed-and-walk/comment-page-1/#comment-1814 RJ Daum Sun, 10 May 2009 21:33:49 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=862#comment-1814 St. Nicholai of Orchid , much like his homilies. So often like trees we don't send down roots. As each day goes by we weaken and finally die and collapse. Sometimes we hurt others when that happens. We do not have to die waiting for a mikvah, tears are the spring water of our hearts and rememberance of death keeps us in the temple daily and soon we find the presence of saints and angels . Christ is Risen St. Nicholai of Orchid , much like his homilies.
So often like trees we don’t send down roots. As each day goes by we weaken and finally die and collapse. Sometimes we hurt others when that happens.
We do not have to die waiting for a mikvah, tears are the spring water
of our hearts and rememberance of death keeps us in the temple daily and soon we find the presence of saints and angels .
Christ is Risen

]]> By: Natalia Arzhantseva http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/05/10/the-paralytic-rise-take-up-thy-bed-and-walk/comment-page-1/#comment-1813 Natalia Arzhantseva Sun, 10 May 2009 16:41:04 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=862#comment-1813 By this first healing Christ brings us to church, gives us the ability to walk. Yes, I think this first healing is remembered by all of us well - the meeting with Christ in our lives, this or that way. Even if we did not suffer that much as the paralytic, Christ healed us from some serious & dangerous - pgysical or moral. We stood up & came to church. And our God gives us many strength, ability to start walking, to begin our life afresh, to start living as Christians. In the first period in chursh we feel a lot of His grace, mercy, we wonder how it could happen to us - a wonder of all possible wonders in this temporary world. Our life enlightens with His light & obtains a new sense. We feel happiness, joy, gratitude, many things seem so easy, so simple. But we cannot be saved without our own efforts, our active participation in our salvation - together with God. Sooner or later we notice that God will not hold us forever in His hands or by hair...He puts us on the earth, and seemingly leaves us alone, withdrowing His blessing - so that we learn to walk ourselves. We cannot be eternal children, we are to fight for our salvation. God gave us the ability to walk for that! So that we keep walking. So that we prove our Christianity, eradicate our sins & passions. Which are, of course, if we do not combat them, prevent us from receiving His blessing & hold us away from Him. We are given the first healing, the first blessing which led us to church; but we should keep it, hold it tight, walk...And Christianity is impossible without a cross. This fight against our sins & passions is also our cross. Sometimes walking - is a very hard job. With falls, injuries, weariness, dangers - whatever we meet on our way to Christ. But we have to pass though our way till its end. And remember that we should never stop walking...That we should not only take up our bed & stand up, but we should go on walking. It's impossible to receive a second healing without that. By this first healing Christ brings us to church, gives us the ability to walk. Yes, I think this first healing is remembered by all of us well – the meeting with Christ in our lives, this or that way. Even if we did not suffer that much as the paralytic, Christ healed us from some serious & dangerous – pgysical or moral. We stood up & came to church. And our God gives us many strength, ability to start walking, to begin our life afresh, to start living as Christians. In the first period in chursh we feel a lot of His grace, mercy, we wonder how it could happen to us – a wonder of all possible wonders in this temporary world. Our life enlightens with His light & obtains a new sense. We feel happiness, joy, gratitude, many things seem so easy, so simple. But we cannot be saved without our own efforts, our active participation in our salvation – together with God. Sooner or later we notice that God will not hold us forever in His hands or by hair…He puts us on the earth, and seemingly leaves us alone, withdrowing His blessing – so that we learn to walk ourselves. We cannot be eternal children, we are to fight for our salvation. God gave us the ability to walk for that! So that we keep walking. So that we prove our Christianity, eradicate our sins & passions. Which are, of course, if we do not combat them, prevent us from receiving His blessing & hold us away from Him. We are given the first healing, the first blessing which led us to church; but we should keep it, hold it tight, walk…And Christianity is impossible without a cross. This fight against our sins & passions is also our cross. Sometimes walking – is a very hard job. With falls, injuries, weariness, dangers – whatever we meet on our way to Christ. But we have to pass though our way till its end. And remember that we should never stop walking…That we should not only take up our bed & stand up, but we should go on walking. It’s impossible to receive a second healing without that.

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