THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Friday in the first week in Ordinary time, 2022

1Sam 8: 4-7, 10-22a

Ps 89

Mark 2:1-12

Loved by God

It is often when we are in greatest need that we discover who our true friends are. We appreciate those who stand by us in difficult times, those who suffer with us when we suffer. We recognize such friends as a great treasure. 

The paralytic in today’s gospel reading (Mk 2:1-12) seems to have had such friends. They were people of faith who cared enough for their friend to stop at nothing to bring him to Jesus. The great crowd around Jesus did not stop them from getting their friend to Jesus; even the roof above Jesus’ head did not stop them. Their faith in Jesus and their loving concern for their friend combined to create an opening in the roof, down through which they could lower their friend before Jesus. Jesus could not but respond to such an expression of indomitable faith. It may surprise us that the first words Jesus spoke to the paralyzed man were not, ‘pick up your stretcher, and go off home’, but, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven’. Jesus recognized that his need for healing went deeper than his need to walk. He understood that the man needed to be assured that he was being embraced by God in love. 

Jesus brought him that deeper, spiritual, healing first, before healing his body. We all need healing of some kind, and, often  it is our need for the deeper, spiritual, healing that is the more urgent. The good news is that the risen Lord always stands before us ready to say to us what he said to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; ‘You are deeply loved by God’; God is drawing you to himself in love’. Sometimes, like the paralytic, we will need good friends, people of faith, to create an opening for us to hear those words from the Lord, to experience his liberating and healing presence.

Let us pray: 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. Amen

+Remain blessed