Word to the Wise
Friday, January 12, 2024 - Friday in the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Sam 8:4-7, 10-22a 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]
This scene is fun to imagine. The stretcher-bearers are amazing in their determination to get their friend to Jesus. Tearing off a roof that was probably made of a mixture of tree limbs and mud (except in Luke, which refers to tiles) could mean quite a mess below as well. But the effort paid off. Jesus responds to THEIR faith. We know nothing of the paralytic's faith. The incident turns theological when some scribes get upset about Jesus' statement: "Child, your sins are forgiven." Since, in their eyes, only God could forgive sins, how could this new popular rabbi make such a claim for himself? Jesus' response is simply to point out that it's not the words but his power that heals the paralytic. The irony is that he really IS the Lord of life that the scribes believed in. They wouldn't and couldn't recognize him.
All the dispute over the possibility of a connection between sin and sickness can distract from the wonderful faith shown by the stretcher-bearers who bring the paralytic to Jesus. I think of the many times I learned of the faith of a student who invited a friend to go to Mass or an event at the Catholic student center. The friend is quite literally brought by faith to faith. Can we think of an example from our experience and lives when we did something like that, or at least witnessed it? Spiritual and moral paralysis is as real as the physical kind and an invitation can be a stretcher headed for a roof!! AMEN