Gospel: 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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
What would you do if a sick person who
is poor will ask you for help? Will you bring him to a hospital or would you
simply ignore and move on with your life?
The gospel for today gives us direction
on what to do whenever somebody asks us for help regardless of who this
somebody is. We must help in whatever way the person in need this was the deed
that was done by the four men who went to the roof of the house where Jesus was
staying.
The four men brought the paralytic to
Jesus. They did not care if they have to open the roof of the house so that
they could bring the paralytic in front of Jesus. What is important for them is
to extend help to the paralytic in whatever forms and ways.
What happened to the four men after the
paralytic was healed and forgiven of his sins by Jesus? They simply fade away
into the sunset; they did not receive any words of appreciation from the crowd
and from the man that they’ve helped.
But certainly, as they walked away and
mingled with the crowd. They carried in their hearts this unexplainable happiness.
Happiness that no human could give them, happiness that no amount of money
could satisfy them and happiness that only Jesus can give them.
This unexplainable happiness was given to them by Jesus for a job well done. And for getting out of their own comfort zones so that they could give comfort and help to someone in need.
How about us, what would we do if a
sick person who is poor would ask us for help? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
No comments:
Post a Comment