Word to the Wise
Saturday, January 15, 2011 - Friday in the First Week in Ordinary Time
[Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 and Mark 2:1-12]When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, "Child, your sins are forgiven." [Mark]
The "their" in the gospel refers to the people who brought the paralytic and persisted in getting him to Jesus by going up on the roof and lowering the stretcher down to the floor! It's a really dramatic scene! "Their faith" is what moves Jesus to act in regard to the sick man. Since the portrait of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark is not complete till Jesus dies and rises, the "faith" here is a simple one that indicates an openness to whatever God can do for them through this healer/preacher, Jesus of Nazareth. A profession of divinity would be premature in the story as Mark tells it. Yet, this is what catches my attention. I meet people like this all the time. They are "seekers" by nature or perhaps, as in today's gospel, by circumstances. Their concern for their friend (relative?) shows caring hearts! This gospel incident shows that Jesus can do a lot for people who are open to him, even if their "faith" is not fully developed.
I think there is a lesson here for any pastor/minister. The old principle is that one starts with folks as they ARE and not as we want them to be! Therefore, their openness, caring and love must be respected and accepted as far as possible! I learned in my years of campus ministry that the casual caring conversation with a student on the sidewalk between classes could have a tremendous impact (especially if I remembered their name!). That student may not be at Mass on Sunday but the conversation of faith may have begun that will lead to some kind of healing. They may go so far as to ask me to pray for "someone they know who is......" Kindness and openness and respect on the part of the Church can lead to great results. A "my way or the highway" approach will simply mean a lot of traffic that by-passes the church! AMEN
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