An Invitation to Act

I am struck by all the things Jesus didn’t say or do in response to the litanies of pain and defensiveness he heard from people. Jesus didn’t say to the man, “You sound like a victim to me; what are you afraid of?” 

He didn’t say, “Well, you have been here for thirty-eight years; I’ve got to wonder.” He didn’t say, “Your healing is not someone else’s responsibility, is it?” or even, “Is this pool the only choice you have?” 

Jesus responded to the sick man’s litany with eight…