The Healing of a Paralytic

Today's Reflections

 

The Healing of a Paralytic 

 http://graceandspace.org

 

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:

When Jesus saw their faith. In this wonderful story, Mark notes that it is the faith of those who carry the paralytic that moves Jesus first to forgive him and then to cure him. The four men bear the paralytic not only on their shoulders but also with their faith.

St. Ambrose was reported to have said of Augustine, whom he knew to be the son of St. Monica: “The son of such a mother cannot be lost.” The tears and prayers of Monica obtained the conversion of her son. She, too, carried her son to Jesus with her faith.

Personally, I am very much touched when people tell me, “I pray for you, bishop.” I know that such people carry me with their faith, and I owe so much of my success to them.

On the shoulders of your faith carry other people,

especially the needy and sinners, to Christ.