Friday, January 4, 2013

1/18/13 – Mark 2:1-12 – Friday of 1st week in ordinary time -


        Today, we hear of the great power Jesus had to heal people.  It is so striking how the friends of this paralytic believed so strongly in Jesus’ power to heal that they even tore apart the roof of a house in order to get this man to Jesus.  What great faith and what strong determination.  When the scribes hear that Jesus has forgiven this man’s sins, they just cannot believe it, because they believe that only God has the authority to forgive this man’s sins and the authority to unbind this sick man from his burden of guilt.  Jesus shows the great power of God’s redeeming love and mercy by healing this man of his physical ailment.  But, as we can see how this man was stricken both physically and spiritually, Jesus heals him body, mind, and soul. 
         This story of the paralytic makes me wonder if we have anything that keeps us from Jesus, if we have any burden that weighs us down.  I wonder also if we approach Jesus in the manner of the paralytic and his friends, in great faith and determination, in doing whatever it takes to break through to him?  Or, are we like the ever-present scribes, trying to trap Jesus, to subject him to criticism and scorn?  We need to remember that Jesus always knows how to deal with the scribes: by outwitting them and tricking them into stepping into their own traps. 
         As Jesus did with the paralytic, may we pray that we open ourselves to God’s merciful love and forgiveness, that it brings us healing & restoration to our lives: to our bodies, to our souls, & to our minds.  May God’s healing love touch every aspect of our lives: our thoughts, our feelings, our attitudes, our memories.  May we be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may walk confidently in the way of the truth of Jesus.  

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