There are many obstacles between us and God. Some obstacles are from the world trying to stop us from reaching God. Other obstacles are from God to protect us from ourselves. The most dangerous obstacles are from our own making, our sins that separate us from God. No obstacle can keep us from God if we are committed to overcoming them to reach God.
My brothers and sisters, this morning we hear important lesson in our lives about the obstacles that come between us and our relationship with God. In the gospel story this morning, there were multiple obstacles. We see the image of Christ. He’s there surrounded by so many people. He’s in the house. So many people that when they bring the paralytic, they can’t even get inside the door. There’s an obstacle there between them and God. But they don’t let the obstacle stop them. In their faith, in their commitment, in their obligation and love for their friend, they find a way to overcome the obstacle. What do they do? In this case, they crawl up on the roof.
The roof itself is an obstacle. They don’t let the obstacle stop them. They cut a hole in the roof because they are committed to bringing their friend to Christ. They are committed in allowing their friend to be with God. And so they lower their friend down and Christ says, seeing their faith, He says, “Go. Your sins are forgiven.” My brothers and sisters, what a great lesson for us. We encounter obstacles each and every single day. There are obstacles of our own making, the obstacles of the sins that we choose to do in our life. We wake up and immediately we begin to sin. There are the obstacles that the world throws at us, that the devil throws at us, the temptations of life. And there are also some obstacles, we have to admit it, that God places in our life. These obstacles, my brothers and sisters are my favorite because they are for our safety. There are times when God puts an obstacle between us and Him because we’re not ready to see His truth.
I’m reminded of Moses going up on the mountain. And immediately, God placed an obstacle. He covered Moses, so Moses could not see God in His truth because Moses wasn’t ready for it yet. There are times, my brothers and sisters, that God puts an obstacle in front of us to save us. We have to accept those obstacles for what they are, God protecting us from ourselves. But the obstacles that we place in our life are the most dangerous. Obstacles of the world, the temptations that the world throws at us. We have no control over that. We have no control over what someone says to us, or does to us, or places in front of us. We have no control over whether the devil is going to place something in this ear or something in the other. What we have control over, my brothers and sisters, is how we take care of ourselves.
The obstacles of our sin is where we need to be placing our attention, not in everybody else. This is the great gift that the church gives us during this great and holy Lent. The opportunity to focus on our sins. This is why when the four friends overcame the obstacles and the paralytic was lying in front of Christ, the very first thing Christ said was, “Your sins are forgiven.” You see, my brothers and sisters, God wants to forgive us, but we place so many things by ourselves to block us from God. Our pride. We continually struggle with thinking that we know what is best. When are we going to realize that we don’t? The greatest obstacle between us and God is ourselves. Our lack of faith to encounter the struggle, not as something that is going to stop us, but as something that is going to help us grow closer to Christ.
I often make the comparison of our spiritual journey in going to the gym, going to the fitness center. We go to the … Well, not me. I don’t go to the fitness center, but people who go to the fitness center. They go and all of the various exercise regimens, they’re all obstacles. They’re all struggles. And in the commitment to overcome the struggle, what happens? The body is stronger. The same thing is true with our soul. When we confront and struggle against the obstacles of our life, the temptations, the sins, all the things that surround us that try to keep us from God, these are the things that will make us stronger, my brothers and sisters, but not if we try and do it on our own.
The paralytic needed four friends. He couldn’t get to Christ on his own. We cannot get to Christ by ourself. Being truly human is being in relationship with other humans. We cannot go alone. And so Christ gives us the church. The church, my brothers and sisters, is our friend to carry us in our paralysis and bring us to God. The church, my brothers and sisters, now 2000 years of practice in overcoming the struggles of life, overcoming sin, overcoming temptation, overcoming pride, the church is carrying us to Christ. And when we find ourselves in front of Him, in the openness of our heart, God says, “Your sins are forgiven.”
You see, my brothers and sisters, if we want to be with God, don’t ever give up. Don’t give up the fight. No matter how small or large the obstacle you’re facing today, it is not so great that it will keep you from God if you desire to see God. Its greatness, the obstacle is only great when we give up. If the four friends had given up, the paralytic would be still lying outside the door. Don’t give up. That is the important message when we confront the obstacles of life, sin, temptation, pride.
Fortunately for us, the church has given us the tools. Just as the four friends lifted up the paralytic, the life of our great Lenten journey, the life of the church lifts us up. Prayer, fasting, taking care of other people, charity work, taking care of the work of the church, these are like our four friends. Lifting us up and bringing us to God. Allow our friends to help us. Allow the life of the church to help us. And I promise you, my brothers and sisters, you will overcome that obstacle and you will find yourself. We will find ourselves closer to God and we will hear Him and He will forgive our sins.
Don’t be like the naysayers. There’s always that one person in the crowd. It’s in the morning’s gospel. “Ooh,” he says. “What kind of man says your sins are forgiven?” Don’t be that one guy. Be the faithful friends. Be the one who commits to encountering and pushing through it so you find yourself in front of God, forgiven, and walking into grace. Glory to God for all things.
