Word to the Wise
Friday, January 15, 2010 - Friday in the First Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22A and Mark 2:1-12]"Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth" - he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." [Gospel of Mark]
After being introduced these past few days to Jesus' power to heal and exorcise demons, even if there is no direct evidence of faith on the part of the person healed, we are introduced to the impact of that power on others as well as the one being healed. The setting is very interesting. We are first told that there is a standing room only crowd, which means Jesus has begun to become well-known. The crowd also includes "scribes" who were considered experts in the Law of Moses and were "allied" with the Pharisees. In addition to the crowd, we have the four men carrying the litter with the paralytic. When they see there's no way they can get through the crowd, they take the guy up on the roof and tear off the roofing. (My engineering friends may admire their "can-do" attitude!) Jesus admires their faith which led them to their actions - an important gospel theme. Then he confronts the "enemy" in the form of the scribes who think his words of forgiveness are blasphemous" "Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Indeed! Jesus shows them, the crowd and all of us that he acts for God and that his words are powerful. If he can make the paralytic walk (something the audience can see) by his words, he can also forgive sins (something they cannot see) by his words. The power of faith, the power of Jesus' word, and the inevitable opposition to that word all come to challenge us today. If we put our faith into our actions, God's power will there to help us as well, no matter who is opposed to it. AMEN
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