Mk 2:1-12
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:
A paralytic carried by four men.
The Gospel is a story of faith. The paralytic is dependent on the four
men who carry him to Jesus. He has faith in them. The four, on the
other hand, place their hope and trust in Jesus. They have great faith
in him. They are undeterred by the crowd that prevents access to Jesus.
They open up the roof above Jesus and let down the mat on which the
paralytic is lying.
Jesus sees the compassion of the four
men for the paralytic; he recognizes their hope and faith in him. In
his mercy, Jesus heals the paralytic and, because the Jews believe that
sickness is God’s punishment, forgives his sins.
The scribes, instead, are lacking in
faith. They fail to see that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Son of
God who has come. They accuse him of blasphemy because God alone can
forgive sins. Jesus points out that he heals in the manner that God
heals, so he can forgive the way God forgives.
We are challenged to bring people,
especially the suffering and the handicapped, to God who is always
ready to forgive and to heal.
Recall moments in your lifewhen Jesus touched you and made you whole.
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