July5, 2018
Thursday of the 13th Week in the Ordinary Time
Am 7: 10-17
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"– he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
Healing of the Paralyzed
F. B. Meyer says: “You do not test the resources of God until you try the impossible.” In the miracle of the healing of the paralyzed man we find some men trying the impossible to get the resources of God. All three Synoptic record the story, and in all three it is connected with a controversy about the authority to forgive sins. The setting for the healing of the paralytic is Capernaum. Jesus was teaching “in the house” plausibly the house of Simon and Andrew.
The men try the impossible when they bring to Jesus a paralyzed person. They are unable to get through the crowd, and so they go up the staircase on the side of the house. They removed the roof and lowered the man into the presence of Jesus. Seeing the faith of those who carried him, Jesus says,” My child, your sins are for-given.” The paralytic, rises up, picks up his bedding and goes home. The result is the usual amazement and astonishment of the crowd. They glorify God, not Jesus.
This story can be approached and interpreted from theological perspective. The paralyzed man and the people who brought him to Jesus believed that Jesus has the power to heal. The fact that they overcome all the obstacles to come to Jesus and the fact that they used an extraordinary means to bring the man to Jesus, indicate their conviction and confidence. They believed that Jesus could cure the paralytic. Jesus offers him first inner healing by his powerful words: “My son your sins are forgiven” and then responds to his physical illness saying: “Stand up and take your mat and go home”
It is said when faith goes to the market it takes a basket. When we are going to the church to pray for rain we take an umbrella. Then we are showing great conviction like those who carried the paralyzed person. There is no mention of the faith of the paralyzed. The faith of those who carried him was enough for Jesus to effect a healing.
In our daily life we intercede before God for the healing of many people. The episode illustrates that our faith itself can bring healing to the person. Let faith be our weapon when we pray for others. Faith helps us to trust on God, receive from God, respond to God and rejoice in God.
Fr. Davis Panadan CMI
