Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 14th January
Message from Fr Paul for Friday, 14th January 2022
Today’s Gospel passage from Mark, (Mk 2: 1-12), presents us with one of the most famous of the miracles of Jesus and for the first time in Mark we meet complaining scribes, who cannot agree with what Jesus is saying and doing. Let’s read our passage first. It’s one you can read over and over again: it never ceases to thrill. “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.’”
Jesus is now back in Capernaum and the crowds are gathering, Crowds are a constant feature in the Gospels. What strikes us most of all about this miracle, details apart, is the faith of the four friends who bring the paralytic to Jesus and go to great lengths to make sure their sick friend gets to lie at Jesus’ feet. No sacrifice is too great. This shows the depth of their conviction and faith in Jesus. It is on seeing their faith that Jesus can say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven.” Until now Jesus has healed people based on their own faith and he has never said anything about forgiving sins, although essentially, to be healed at that time meant automatically that sin was forgiven. The belief was that illness of any kind was due to sin. We are told what the scribes or doctors of the Law are thinking. Jesus is committing blasphemy, for only God can forgive sin, is what they’re thinking, but Jesus can read their minds. Whereas the scribes don’t express their thoughts openly, Jesus addresses them directly with that loaded, unanswerable question. His point is that both forgiveness and healing are miracles of God’s loving mercy and are, in fact, interchangeable. It is, indeed, God who forgives sin, but Jesus is the Son of Man, who has been given authority by the Father to forgive and to heal. The paralytic simply obeys the word and order of Jesus to pick up his stretcher and walk home, while the crowd remains astounded and praises God for what they have seen. “Never have we seen anything like this!”
Today we thank God for healing and forgiving us in Christ, something he does in all the Sacraments and whenever to turn to him in prayer and in any need. God is always there for us. He is never absent, even though we might forget him. He loves us and wants only what is best for us. This miracle also reminds us of how important our prayers for others are and all forms of intercessory prayer. Let us never tire of praying for others.
