Rise, Rose

As a child, one of my Dad's favorite pun like expressions was to say in a stern note ... "Susan Rose .... [then with a smirk] and left the table." Perhaps it's that play on words with rise and my middle name Rose that's always given me an affinity for today's Gospel passage. Where Jesus says to the paralytic man and the doubting crowds around him:

“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This man is blaspheming.”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
“Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins”—
he then said to the paralytic,
“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He rose and went home.

Perhaps it is the play on words, or it could be something much deeper. The deep love of Jesus, that helps us to find our inner power, that leads us on the path to healing ....