This week, we get to the story that everyone wants to act out. The paralyzed man, his four visionary friends, and going through the roof. I haven’t yet had the courage to try this one with the kids, but someday. Someday.
This story juxtaposes dramatically with last week’s leper who says to Jesus “If you so will, you can make me clean.” Here, the friends say “we will!” and they get rather hands-on to prove the point. The emphasis is on our own faith and therefore on our actions rather than on our ability to persuade God to act.
Which is probably a good place to be as we approach Lent.
As we begin to trace the days to Easter, we begin to think about how the stories of Christ shape our own lives. What have we heard and what do we think about it? How much are we willing to do? Because we too want to be in the room where that kind of whole-person healing can happen. We want to witness life abundant. Maybe we are hungry for it for our friends, maybe for ourselves. And we know we need to move some things to make that happen.
So, Lent.
It’s about moving the roof.
With adults and children alike, it’s a time to walk through the story slowly, looking at it from different angles. Where are the ways in? Who is included and who excluded? And why and what can we do about it? What would it be like to be the man on the mat, locked into his own infirmity? What about the friends? What would it be like to be so active with compassion that you are ready to tear through ceilings to open things up for others?
It’s also about making the time to ask the Pharisee questions we all have.
Is it okay to think about God like this? Like that?
Isn’t that blasphemous?
What’s with other people anyways?
The lengthy days of Lent give us time to listen for answers as we circle the story – this one chapter and the totality of Jesus’ story – circling closer and closer to the final days in Jerusalem before the first Easter and every Easter.
It’s time to imagine life along different lines.
One Sunday School I know is giving up crafts for Lent. They are going to spend their time only on stories – telling and retelling, questioning and imagining stories. Walking all around them together. Living inside them. Imagining new ways in.
Another Lenten idea I found through the Godly Play network is to create prayer cards with children as a way to reflect on the story you have shared. For today’s story, you might work through prayers for those who suffer, for those who help others, for those who feel shut out, for those who look for answers, for those confused by God’s actions in their lives and the lives of others. I think my kids might like that. They are big fans of remembering everyone they know when we say grace before a meal. This might work as a way of stretching our prayers even further.
Lent begins on Wednesday 22nd February. 
Thanks to all those who have got in touch already about the Matthew read-along. The first post will go up next Monday with the week’s readings. If you missed the invitation, you can find it here. If you have material to add to any of the weeks, just drop me a note via the comments section and I’ll get in touch.
