Reflection for January 16 Friday of the First Week; Mark 2:1-12

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.”

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Reflection:

What will 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 a 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 faded 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 ordinary folks. They carried in their hearts this unexplainable joy, joy that no human could give them and joy that no amount of money could buy them. 

This unexplainable joy 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 you, what would you do if a sick person who is poor will ask you for help? – Marino J. Dasmarinas