REFLECTIONS TODAY
In Capernaum, when it is made known that Jesus is at home (probably in Simon’s house), people flock to the house, some bringing with them their sick, like the paralyzed man. Mark mentions “mat” (“bed” in Matthew and Luke) and the “(thatched) roof” (“tiles” in Luke), harping back to the original Palestinian setting where many people were poor.
The paralytic is carried by a group of friends. Camaraderie was customary at that time. What gets our attention, however, is the note of the evangelist: “When Jesus saw their faith…” (v 5). The four friends show confidence and loyalty to Jesus (the basic meaning of “faith”). They trust that Jesus will heal their friend.
Often enough, before healing, Jesus asks for faith. The person requests for healing or miracle as an act of faith in the power of Jesus. Or Jesus himself queries about the person’s faith as a condition for the requested miracle. In all these cases, consideration is made of the faith of the petitioner. But in today’s Gospel, faith is shown by the four companions of the paralytic.
We are not even sure if the paralytic had faith in Jesus or simply played along with his friends so as not to offend them by belittling their concern for his welfare. At any rate, Jesus takes into account not just the faith of the paralytic (if he had any) but also the faith of his friends. This tells us that the power of intercession is real and decisive!
First Reading • Heb 4:1-5, 11
Let us be on our guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains, that none of you seem to have failed. For in fact we have received the Good News just as they did. But the word that they heard did not profit them, for they were not united in faith with those who listened. For we who believed enter into that rest, just as he has said:
As I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter into my rest,” and yet his works were accomplished at the foundation of the world. For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner, and God rested on the seventh day from all his works; and again, in the previously mentioned place, they shall not enter into my rest.
Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.
Gospel • Mark 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 the paralytic, “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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.