In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
Many know that in polite society Brits are often taught, “Do not talk about religion or politics:” these topics can lead to disagreements, arguments and conflict—two who consider themselves friends might, in an instant, not want to be in the presence of each other. “I could not associate myself with a voter for that party … how could you believe those things? … I will never view you in the same way again!” So we restrict ourselves to conversations about the weather, we ask “how are you?” with the only valid response being “fine, thank you.” We do anything and everything to avoid conflict and to keep the peace.
Nevertheless, religion occasionally comes up. “Why do you go to Church?” we may be asked. And we’re tempted to give a banal response, “I like it, it gives food for thought, it prepares me for my week, it’s an oasis of peace in a chaotic world.” We give these dull responses to move the conversation along, to get onto a less controversial topic, so that we don’t ruin the mood.
And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.’
These did not move the conversation along, they did not give a dry response, they carried the paralytic to Christ. And we are called to do the same; “always be ready,” says the Apostle Peter,
to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
First Peter 3:15
How are we to do this? We know that people roll their eyes when they feel preached at, nodding politely whilst working out a way to remove themselves from the situation, yet what can we say when asked, “Why do you go to Church?” We can leave aside our predictable sayings and tell of the Truth we have received.
Here I have found Truth, reality and meaning, here I have found Life, that the existence we bear in this world can be transcended, here I encounter the divine, here I am healed, here I am truly alive. Here evil is defeated, here God frees me from the captivity I endured, here I have discovered the fullness of the Resurrection and participate in eternal Life.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot carry everyone to Christ: some will resist, some will complain, some will ridicule us, some will roll off the bed on which they are carried rather than encounter Truth. But if we love our friends and family, if we truly love our neighbour, we will want them to receive what we have received and encounter the divine. And we pray that God will reveal to us to whom we should speak, to whom we should give the reason for the hope which is within us, that we too may be found worthy to bring them before our Lord and Saviour that their sins be forgiven and they may rise and walk.
Why, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, do we go to Church?
That we may offer true glory, honour and worship to our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who forgives sins that we may rise with Him, together with His unoriginate Father and the All-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit. Amen.
Brethren, take as an example of suffering and patience the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation. Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elias was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
— James 5:10–20
At that time, getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For 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, take up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
— Matthew 9:1–8