Sudden Illness

God heals. That might sound like a contradiction of reality to us who are here, at this time, in this place, who are gathered to commend ____________ to God, ____________ whose illness struck so suddenly and who sickened and died so rapidly. But let me read you a gospel text, one well-known to us all. The evangelist Matthew tells us:

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,"…