Mark 2:1-12

Mark 2:1-12

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I praise you for who you are and thank you for all that you have done for me. I entrust myself to your care and guidance. Strengthen me so that I may always walk in your ways and seek your holy will.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Five Conflicts: The Gospel begins a new section in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 2:1-3:35), a section that begins with a series of five conflicts between Jesus and the religious authorities. It ends with Jesus appointing new leaders for Israel (Mark 3:13-19) and with Jesus identifying what makes someone a member of his new family (Mark 3:31-35). In the first conflict, narrated in today’s Gospel, Jesus saw the faith of those who brought the paralytic to him and forgave the paralytic’s sins before healing him. A first moral lesson that we can learn from today’s Gospel is to approach Jesus with faith and trust. The doorway to Jesus was blocked, but a more difficult way, through the roof, was possible with a little effort. A second moral lesson is that we can, like the four men who lowered the paralytic into the house, work to bring people to Jesus. Often, our actions speak louder than words, so true examples of charity, merciful love, and generous self-giving are what we should strive for.

2. From Paralysis to Walking in the Spirit: The healing of the paralytic can be seen as a symbol of the spiritual healing that takes place through the Sacraments of the Church. Just as Jesus healed the man from his physical paralysis and enabled him to walk, so also Jesus heals our spiritual paralysis. Through Baptism, we are cleansed from the stain of original sin and begin to walk in faith, hope, and love. Through Confirmation, we are strengthened with the Spirit to walk as soldiers of Christ who bear witness to him. Through Reconciliation, we are forgiven, restored to friendship with God, and can walk once more to the heavenly gates of eternal life. Through Anointing, we are healed and can walk with suffering Christ to Golgotha and rise with him to new life.

3. Replacing Israel’s Religious Leaders: There were some scribes – some scholars of the Law – in the crowd gathered in Peter’s house in Capernaum. When they heard Jesus forgive the sins of the paralytic, they began to accuse Jesus of blasphemy. Jesus, they thought, was equating himself with God by claiming to have the power to forgive sins. In the five conflicts (Mark 2:1-3:6), the scribes and Pharisees accuse Jesus of blasphemy, of associating with sinners, of not teaching his disciples to fast, and of violating the Sabbath rest. This leads to them plotting to kill Jesus. The five conflicts reveal that Israel needs new leadership. And Jesus will appoint the twelve and send them out with authority to preach the Gospel and drive out demons (Mark 3:13-19). The teaching, governing, and sanctifying authority given by Christ to the Twelve Apostles has been handed on to their successors, the Bishops of the Church.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you heal those who are broken and console those who are afflicted. You are our refuge. Take me by the hand and lift me up when I fall. Raise me up on the last day.

Living the Word of God: What is my spiritual paralysis? What keeps me from walking with Jesus along the path to eternal life?