Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 14, 2022
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.”
Reflection
Envision the paralytic’s typical day. It probably involved hours lying in the corner of a family member’s house, treated like a discarded piece of furniture. Someone might have occasionally placed him in front of the temple to beg. There he was often told, “This is your fault. God is punishing you” or, “It’s sad, but there’s nothing I can do.”
But Mark explains that four people made this day unlike any the paralytic had ever known.
We read no background on the carriers. Maybe one was related to the paralytic. Perhaps another had previously been healed by Jesus. A few might have noticed the others struggling with the stretcher. Mark makes it sound so easy—as if they’d been waiting for the Messiah so they could take the paralytic to him through the roof. No doubt it was messier.
We do know one thing about this group. They united behind a willingness to be moved by someone else’s suffering. Others said, “Too bad, but there’s nothing to do.” The carriers said, “We don’t know what is going to happen, but we must do something.” They believed that the paralytic deserved to be with Jesus, and they resolved to make it happen.
Imagine this encounter from the paralytic’s perspective. First, you see the carriers peering through the hole they’ve torn. Then you see the crowd. There’s one face that gives light to all the others. Jesus looks at you as if he’s found someone he’s yearned to see.
All your life you’ve heard, “God has forsaken you.” Today you hear, “Your sins are forgiven. Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
Now you feel your limbs trembling with excitement as you stand before Jesus. You have control over your life. It took a rather unorthodox entrance, but you’re finally home.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, those who love you bear witness to this love by sharing it with others. Help us to grow in love, and strengthen us to reach out to those in need and lead them to you, so that all who are burdened in this life may experience healing in body and soul. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Macrina the Elder was the matriarch of a famously faithful family—her son and four of her grandchildren were named saints.
Two of these grandsons helped shape the faith that we proclaim today—Basil the Great, a doctor of the Church, and his brother, Gregory of Nyssa, who helped the Church better articulate her understanding of the Trinity. Both of these men played crucial roles in formulating the Nicene Creed that Catholics still recite every Sunday at Mass. Macrina raised both of these men and their influential younger sister, Macrina the Younger. She gave all these great saints their first religious instruction as children.
During a persecution of Christians, Macrina was forced to flee with her husband to safety. They left their home and hid in the woods for seven years. They were often hungry and had to live off of the land and whatever animals they could hunt. Not long after they were finally allowed to go home, another round of persecution took effect, and their possessions were confiscated.
Despite all these trials and tribulations, Macrina lived a long life and died around the year 340. She is a patron saint of widows and those facing poverty.
St. Macrina the Elder, grandmother who raised a great family for the Church—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Macrina the Elder is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed November 22, 2024.