Word to the Wise
Friday, January 13, 2017 - Friday in the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
[Heb 4:1-5, 11 and Mark 2:1-12]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]
There is much in this scene about Jesus' power to heal and to forgive sin. What may escape our attention is the power of the faith of those who bring the paralytic to Jesus. The words, "When Jesus saw their faith...." are important. That faith is what Jesus responds to. Can we imagine our own faith enabling us to bring someone to Jesus? It happens. The stories of those who enter the church at the Easter Vigil consistently reveal the power of the faith of others (family, friends, co-workers) to attract others. Evangelization is not just the task of church workers!
There are a number of instances in the gospel where individuals have to battle their way through a crowd surrounding Jesus (the Syro-Phoenician woman, Bartimaeus, the woman with hermorrhages, Zaccheus) to receive his attention. Those in the crowd can be so focused on their own interests that they forget to help others. The "privatization" of religious faith in our culture is well-known. Today's gospel scripture is a reminder of the importance of witness and reaching out in faith. The repair of the roof cannot be compared to the repair of the paralytic! AMEN
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