Who accompanies us
And they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. (Matthew 9: 8)
Getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For 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 bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. (Matthew 9: 1-8)
Often in life we find ourselves in situations in which we cannot do anything by ourselves. In these situations, those who help us resolve our difficulties are precious friends, indeed. Those who brought the paralytic to Jesus prophetically constitute the role of the Church Jesus was about to found. For example, without the Church, none of us would have ever had the grace to be accompanied to Confession. Let us be thankful in our prayers today for those who allowed us to approach the Sacrament of Penance for the first time.
