Crowds are so difficult to handle. There are crowds because of lack of space and crowds which are created because of lack of patience. The crowds which were near Jesus were not impatient crowds or created crowds but huge realistic crowds. It is surprising that Jesus and his disciples were not crushed by these crowds.
Jesus saw people at
grounds, at the shore and sometimes he was on a boat and the crowd was on land.
The few times he was in a house, the people thronged to see him. So much that
there came a point when one could declare that there was no space anymore. St.
Mark 2: 1-12 talks of such a scenario. Verse 2 says, “And many were gathered
together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door…”
In South Asian countries
and among the poor, lower middle class and even middle class in India, houses are
filled with people. The family members and then other family, cousins and even
friends who come to cities and towns for education and jobs. Even when the house
is already full, the family opens its door and makes space for the person who
seeks refuge. There is nothing practical about this and no clear space which is
available and thought about. Space is created out of thin air.
Many Indians and
Keralites who work abroad in the Middle East, also stay in bachelor rooms,
where there are bunker beds and no privacy. The camps are even worse. Lots of
hardships are undergone to make money for the family back home. In Kerala,
migrant workers stay in small rooms, with little facilities and adjust so that
they can save money to send to their homes in several parts of North India.
Small rooms, spaces and facilities are created to accommodate people.
More people are cramped
into a room which is already full. The sad reality of misuse of space is seen
during illegal migration, when children and whole families are smuggled in
trucks, boats and ships to Europe and America with promises of a bright future.
Spaces, mostly illegal, are created and people are accommodated. Many don’t make
it, while others squeeze through.
This is a sweaty, full
and packed space into which the paralytic is brought by four men. The lack of
space means that he is brought in through the roof. Creating space is a skill
that the poor have. They have the gift of adapting to the situation and to the
needs. This is seen in the case of the paralytic. There is always space for compassion,
love and healing. The people there accept that and Jesus puts his seal on this
with the healing.
Coming to think of it,
the poor never say no, never say close and never say enough. The church should
also follow this mentality and should embrace people instead of limiting crowds
and making spaces exclusive. The high-rise buildings are possible because of workers
living in cramped spaces, branded clothes and even toys are available at
competitive prices because of sweatshops or spaces with poor working conditions.
Jesus accepts the paralytic instead of asking his friends to take him out. He
himself ministers to people in difficult scenarios and conditions. Amen.
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