Word to the Wise
Friday, January 18, 2019 - 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]
JANUARY 18 SAINT MARGARET OF HUNGARY OP [Friday in the first week in Ordinary Time]
In these early chapters of the Gospel According to Mark, we are learning about Jesus' power to teach, to heal and to cast out demons. Today we learn about his power to forgive sins! The scribes who were present in that packed house were scandalized by the statement quoted above. But Jesus is unapologetic, and he demonstrates his power to forgive sin by healing the paralytic. It is not a matter of the words he had to use. It's simply a matter of his power.
However, there is another "power" in this scene that always captures my attention. It is the power of the faith of the stretcher-bearers who bring the paralytic up on the roof and tear off the roof! The text says, "When Jesus saw THEIR faith....." No mention is made of the paralytic's faith. Jesus doesn't seem upset that his roof has been torn off! He sees the faith of those stretcher-bearers!
A Dominican brother of mine once commented to me in regard to this passage that sometimes it takes a community to bring someone to faith and healing. In addition to realizing Jesus' power to heal and forgive, we might recognize that same power in our own communities of faith, knowing that Jesus will be there to work through us! AMEN