13-Jan-17

Gospel MK 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
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."
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what
they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"
–he said to the paralytic,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
Reflection:
Jesus, upon seeing the faith of the paralytic man and his friends who go so far as to break through the roof to get close to Him, said,
"Child, your sins are forgiven."
The scribes asked themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
There is a hint of sadness in Jesus' reply, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?'
It always saddens the heart of a parent when one child begrudges his brother or sister some good fortune.
It was a common belief that disease, deformity, or sickness was a result of God's displeasure over a person's sinfulness. The scribes saw forgiveness as the exclusive province of God.
They saw Jesus as a man. And, in their mind, the paralytic had been punished by God and it was not the place of a man to forgive him.
However, God sent His Son as a human being and gave him the authority to forgive sins in his human form.
"But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"
–he said to the paralytic,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."

We are also called by God to forgive others.

By our forgiveness of those "who trespass against us," we, like Jesus, bring about healing.

Only through forgiveness will wounds be healed, peace abound, and God be glorified.

"Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing you were the prisoner." - - Max Lucardo