Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 13th January 2023

January is certainly flying by. It’s already 13th and, although the weather can be pretty miserable, especially the rainy days with serious flooding in some areas, nevertheless the days are lengthening quickly and soon it will be possible to go out with Toby at 6am without our miner’s torch. With the strong winds and wet earth, trees are easily toppling over, including a huge one in our woods, blocking the dogwalkers’ path. January is a good month for planning the many activities, both spiritual and social, that will be taking place at Belmont and in the Belmont Parish this coming Spring and Summer. This week we have had some excellent meetings both of the Parish Council and the Events Committee and I’m thrilled to report much enthusiasm after the near three-year closedown caused by Covid.

 

​Our Gospel passage for today follows on from yesterday’s. We are reading Mark, (Mk 2: 1012). The event it describes is a famous one and one we know by heart, the healing of the paralytic brought to Jesus by his friends, who see themselves obliged to lower him down through the roof so as to catch the attention of Jesus. Let’s read the entire passage. “When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, ‘How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?’ Jesus, inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them, ‘Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he turned to the paralytic – ‘I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.’ And the man got up, picked up his stretcher at once and walked out in front of everyone, so that they were all astounded and praised God saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’”

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​The crowds are beginning to be a constant feature in the life and ministry of Jesus. They are forever following him around, even when he would like to have a few hours to himself or for prayer with his heavenly Father. Jesus never rejects them, but has compassion on them in their suffering, poverty and need for God. The friends of the paralytic, seeing that the crowds impede their ability to bring their friend before Jesus, go to great lengths to get him seen and healed by the Master. They strip the roof and make an opening in order to lower the man down in front of Jesus and it is on the basis of their faith that Jesus heals the man. Yet Jesus begins by assuring the paralytic that his sins are forgiven. This statement brings criticism from the scribes or doctors of the law. How can Jesus forgive sin? Surely only God can do that. Jesus asks them which is it easier to say: your sins are forgiven or take up your sleeping mat and walk? If they want proof that he is the Son of Man and has authority on earth to forgive sin, then he will show them his power. He tells to man to pick up his mat or stretcher and walk. This the man does. All are astounded, both for the healing and for the gift of forgiveness. We, too, can seek both healing and forgiveness in Jesus. We have only to ask. We can also ask our friends to pray for us.