The Healing of a Paralytic

Today's Reflections

January 13, 2012

St. Hilary, bishop and doctor
(OptM) WHITE
Friday of the First Week
GREEN
1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a
Ps 89
Mk 2:1-12

The Healing of a Paralytic

¹When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. ²Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. ³They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. ⁴Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, ⁷“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” ⁸Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? ⁹Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? ¹⁰But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—¹¹he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” ¹²He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Reflection:

Jesus saw their faith. Jesus recognizes the faith of the four men who are determined to bring the paralytic to him. Undeterred by the crowd, they open up the roof and lower the sick man before Jesus. The paralytic, too, has faith on these four friends, consenting to their initiative on his behalf. In response to their faith, Jesus heals the paralytic and forgives his sins.

In contrast, the scribes lack the faith to see Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of God who has come into the world. They accuse him of blasphemy. Jesus points out that he heals as God heals and he forgives as God forgives.

We are challenged to lead people, especially the suffering and the handicapped, back to God. We may have to exert extra effort to carry and lift them to God so that they experience God’s healing love and forgiveness.

Have we brought our love for God to people in need? Have we, out of love, brought someone back to God?