There’s this great story in the Bible that shows up in all three of the synoptic gospels (Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26).  The story goes like this… Jesus is teaching and healing in the town of Capernaum.  He is inside of a house and a large crowd has gathered around him, so many people, in fact, that the house is overflowing with folks. A few men bring their paralyzed friend to the house, and seeing the crowd, climb to the roof and boldly cut a hole in the roof, subsequently lowering their friend directly in front of Jesus.  Jesus responds to this audacious act by healing the paralyzed man.

None of the gospels indicate why the friends of the paralyzed man did what they did. Perhaps they hoped that Jesus would be able to heal him. Maybe they wanted their friend to hear the words of Jesus and somehow be transformed by his teaching. Probably they didn’t know what would happen.  All we know is that they wanted their friend to have a front row seat to Jesus.

Perhaps that’s why many of us come to church on Sunday mornings. We come because we’re thankful. We come because we’re broken. We come because we’re lost. We come because we want a front row seat to Jesus.  We’re not sure what will happen, but we come to find out and maybe, just maybe, be transformed by Jesus’ life-giving word and sacrament.  

We’ve done a little more furniture-moving in the church lately. We’ve removed a front pew and modesty panel on the epistle side of the church in order to make space for a pray-ground for children. In this comfortable space prepared just for them, children will be able to move around a bit more than they can in the pews. They will be able to engage the lessons of the day through materials prepared just for them. They will be able to see what the clergy and others are doing up front because they will have a front row seat. Yes, a front row seat to Jesus!

I realize that it causes a stir whenever furniture is moved around in the church.  I understand that many think that children should remain still and quiet in church. I get it that what we have done with the furniture will not be everybody’s cup of tea. But can’t we agree that of all those in the church who should have a front row seat to Jesus, it should be our children?  I’m not sure what might happen in the hearts and minds and souls of our children when they get a front row seat, but I can’t wait to find out! 

My hunch is that the men who cut a hole in the roof of the house caused quite a stir in Capernaum.  I bet that the folks in that town were talking about that day for years to come.  One thing I am absolutely sure of… the life of the paralyzed man was changed forever.  And all because his friends wanted him to have a front row seat to Jesus.  Thanks be to God.

~Father Art