- Mark, Chapter 2:1-12 (NAB)
- 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."
Please share your response to the following reflection questions based on Mark 2: 1-12
- What would you be seeing and feeling if you were in this crowd?
- In what ways is sin like paralysis? What freedoms has Jesus' forgiveness given to you?
- In what areas do you need forgiveness now?
Sin is totally like paralysis. I tell a lie, and then to cover that lie, I have to tell another lie and so on. What if I forget part of the lie I told? I end up frozen with fear.
ReplyDeleteSimilar with other sins... end up frozen with fear.
What am I seeing in this story? I'd be the observer of the friends of the paralytic. I love watching them try this hard to get their friend close. They believed the man were sure their friend would not be turned down, if they could just get the man near Jesus. They finally got so desperate they headed for the roof. In our terms, they were so convinced Jesus would help, they'd stop at nothing.
ReplyDeleteThat's deep believing! Like the man who muttered, 'if I just touch his cloak, I will be healed'. That's the kind of deep believing we are called to. If we would only try like they have. I love this story!