Stretcher Bearers

Scripture

Some men came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ …. But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he said to the man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ (Mark 2:3-5,10-11 NIVUK) 

Stretcher Bearers 

Seven of us sat together on a pew, another in the row behind and our 9th offered the eulogy and served as a pall bearer for a decades’ long member of one of our groups. We were last together in person at a retreat last Fall, praying, playing and laughing together, sharing our stories as age and stage changed us daily.  

As I sat in the funeral I thought of the departed friend and just as the pall bearers carried his body out of the service we’ve carried one another on numerous occasions – sometimes we are carrying and at others we are being carried. And we carry one another into the presence of Jesus both in prayer and in tangible care and kindness.  

Jesus’ saw the faith of a group of friends who even opened the roof to give him access to his healing of paralysis. It’s a great template for us as we offer friendship to one another and receive it in turn. Our faith carries another, and another’s faith carries me.   

I’ve adjusted the prayer of committal at the end of the service to be our prayer as stretcher bearers for God and one another.   

A Prayer for Today

Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we offer ourselves, your servants. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, sheep of your own fold, lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming. Receive us into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light, even as we still walk these roads of time and space. Amen