Word to the Wise
Friday, January 15, 2016 - Friday in the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Sam 8:4-7, 10-22a and Mark 2:1-12]FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2016 STS. FRANCIS CAPILLAS, PETER SANZ AND COMPANIONS - DOMINICAN MARTYRS IN CHINA [1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22 and Mark 2:1-12. Scriptures may vary at Dominican locales.] They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable 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. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, "Child, your sins are forgiven." [Mark] The high drama of a roof being torn open and a paralytic on a mat being lowered into the room, and the dialog between Jesus and the scribes about the forgiveness of sin, could distract us from a very important detail. When Jesus sees the whole thing happening, we are told that "seeing THEIR FAITH...." he spoke to the paralytic. Four men of faith brought the paralytic to Jesus. It is THEIR faith that Jesus perceives. And it is their FAITH that Jesus responds to. A wise Dominican brother of mine once commented on this, "Sometimes it takes a community to support and bring someone to faith and to Jesus." Can any of us point to an experience where our faith along with others resulted in our bringing someone to Jesus? AMEN