Historical Setting: The Great Skellig in an unknown time
Rarely do I explain my gift, or call it an oddity, of amazing healing power. But I did speak it aloud not to an intimate family member, but to a small community of monks who are strangers to me. They have so many questions; so after Mass I find a place on a stairway wall to sit, and answer whatever they ask.
Here the summer sun is tempered by the cool breath of sea–always beautiful. Always rugged — Even more awesome in storms.
Monks gather with their questions.
“Is this miracle available to anyone who doesn’t sin?”
Didn’t I already say that?
“My oddity of life on earth is a sign, not a miracle. It is an earthly metaphor of a heavenly truth. Jesus intended the dramatic illustration of a healing to life as an earthly sign to tell us, his friends, of eternal life and life again, which is spiritually available to all.”
“Were you chosen for this because you were sinless?”
I shouldn’t be caught laughing at this question. It was a serious question in these times. But how can I answer?
“It wasn’t about sin at all, even though the notion of sin seems to drive every spiritual message on earth in these times. Sin is of earth and doesn’t speak the poetry of heaven. In the ways of thinking in these times, it would seem we are all sinners.”
“So, you are saying Jesus raised up a sinner?”
“I’m just saying sin, depending on the viewpoint people take of it, is either the inevitable nature of all humankind, or it is an earthly stain on some and not others. It isn’t a factor in the relentless, unjudging, gracious love of God for us or for the eternal nature of spiritual life.”
Now they are shouting questions over one another.
“What about Hell?”
“Why would people choose goodness over sin if the reward of heaven is for all?”
“How can you say sin is a ‘viewpoint?'”
“Jesus gave us signs of God’s universal and unbreakable love. This love of God is not fractured or manipulated by human sin. When Jesus was present, teaching, walking the earth, at my first rising, no one cared about my sins. My sister was blaming Jesus for being late to my death, but other than that, sin wasn’t even considered.”
Jesus was using something all people share — healing, which is a gracious gift to all Creation, as a sign to show the nature of the reality of God’s love as unceasing and regardless of sin.”
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 