Saint Francis of Assisi by Ermes Dovico

GOSPEL PEARLS

The healthy cares for the sick

They went to him carrying a paralytic, supported by four people (Mk 2:3)

Gospel Pearls 17_01_2020

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.” (Mk 2: 1-12)

The paralytic, whose sins were forgiven by the Lord even before he was healed by Him, represent every human being and every Christian who cannot reach Jesus on their own. Those who help him, carrying him on a stretcher and lowering him down from the roof of the house where Jesus was, in turn recall the Church, whose members that are currently healthy mercifully take care of the members who are sick in body and spirit. Jesus admires their faith and for this reason he pardons the sins of the sick man and heals him. May we never forget to be intercessors with Jesus for the needs of others.