Daily Reflection – 1/12/2024
Sacred Scripture
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.” ( Mark 2:1-12)
Reflection
The four friends in today’s Gospel see an obstacle They work together to figure out a way to overcome it. They clear out a passage in the roof that they then can use to lower their paralyzed friend down into the house where Jesus will see him and reach out to him and heal him. And they do this hard work and they get from Jesus more than they expected. For Jesus does something unexpected when he addresses this paralyzed man. He doesn’t just heal his body. Rather, he starts by healing him on the inside: “Your sins are forgiven!” Forgiveness is where it starts.
There is another group in this story. A group of scribes and Pharisees who sit and watch and object. “Just who does this guy think he is, forgiving sins?!” This group is struggling with a more serious obstacle. The obstacle which is separating this group from others and from God is their own arrogance, their own certainty of their rightness, their rigidity of thought, their holiness, their purity. It is an obstacle which is keeping them away from God. It is in fact an obstacle which separates them from others and puts a large moat between them and God. There are days when I shake my head and wonder if the moat will always be there for some.
Against that backdrop, we need to ask what kinds of hard work we need to do in order to understand and walk on the road to Christ. In what ways are we paralyzed in our lives, in what ways are we confronted by seemingly insurmountable obstacles that divide us from our loved ones, from others and from God? In what ways do we allow the secular world to divide us? There are some families where politics cannot be discussed because members of the same family have drawn intransient lines!! Is that a situation where love prevails? Is that a situation where forgiveness exists? Is that a situation where respect of another prevails?
There is not one of us who is free from sin. There is not one of us who has not offended the spirit of God. Time and again, we consciously or not simply do not act in the love of Christ. In spite of ourselves, Christ’s love is around us. I sometimes think I should have a sweater made that reads “The love of Christ surrounds me.” It sure would remind me and others that I am not walking alone. It sure would remind me that every word or action from me should be spoken in love.
I know that sweater concept may sound silly. But the truth of the words is not. His love and his forgiveness are there for each of us. Every minute, every hour, every day. To be filled by that simply means that we need to “root around” in the garden of our life. Find those actions, words, or relationships that have led us away from His love and forgiveness. Acknowledge what they have done to us and then turn them over to Him.
Jesus is waiting to do a “new deed” in your life anytime you turn to him. So, if you have a darkness in your life – even from the past — Jesus wants to take it from you. He will not take it from you by force; he will wait for you to go to Him or open yourself to His love.
Before we can fully respond to God’s call and freely follow Jesus, before we can be free in our relationships with others, we need that forgiveness and healing. It’s as much of a gift to us today as it was to the paralytic.
For your sake, arise from any darkness that has troubled you and walk in the love of Christ.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord Jesus, through your merciful love and forgiveness you bring healing and restoration to body, soul, and mind. May your healing power and love touch every area of my life — my innermost thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and memories. Pardon my offences and transform me in the power of your Holy Spirit.”
Daily Note
Jesus’ offer of forgiveness is the greatest gift he could have given this man or anyone else. To be made right with God is the ultimate gift we could give to someone else. And it’s such a simple message. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Put your trust in him. Live your life for him.
