When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic— ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’ Mark 2:1-12
Love can do extraordinary things Judgement can destroy good works. In our Gospel today we find a man, unable to move himself at all, brought by loving friends to Jesus. When the crowd doesn't let them in they remove the roof and drop him in. This is love in action. Despite the negativity of the scribes, Jesus gave the man his life back in full. The mat that had been his only world, now was rolled, tucked under his arm and he was free. Sometimes the faith of others, when we have nothing more to give, can bring us to the place of healing and new life. May we be those who remove roofs and get through the crowd of naysayers so that those in need can get to Jesus and the healing and new life they desire.
Healing Creator, you brought us all
into the family and community of love
where no serious illness or limitation
keeps us from your healing and loving touch.
We often define ourselves and others
by the limitations and wounds we have
we let the scars of our broken past
keep us from breaking through to Jesus.
Give us your strength and will today
so that our faith might be strong
make us courageous and bold
to break through the barriers and judgements today. Amen.
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