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Gospel Reading for January 17, 2025 – Mark 2: 1-12
VERY IMPRESSIVE
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
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Probably, it was not just the faith of the four men who carried the paralytic that moved Jesus, but their love for the paralytic. They did not just believe in Jesus’ ability to heal their friend, but they were so determined that their friend be healed, no matter what. Maybe, they tried several times before and failed because of the crowds, so they devised a sure way to get the paralytic in front of Jesus. VERY IMPRESSIVE indeed!
To what lengths are we willing to go to help those in need realize how much they need Jesus? When a friend is in danger of falling into the devil’s trap, do we help prevent it from happening? When we find out that someone we know is drifting away from God, do we make an effort to help?
Lord Jesus, heal us of our imperfections that stand in the way of attaining eternal life!
