Gospel
Mk 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
“We have never seen anything like this.”
In today's Gospel, we see the power of Jesus. So that we may have more faith in His power to forgive sins, Jesus works the miracle of healing the paralytic man. Yet we should remember that the miracle of having our sins forgiven is a greater miracle than a healing of a physical illness. This is because miracles on the order of nature pale in comparison to the miracle of God bringing a soul in a state of sin to the state of grace. The state of grace gives our souls the power to live in heaven with God for all eternity. In return for the deep faith of the paralytic and his friends, Jesus says that the paralytic's sins are forgiven after they draw closer to Jesus.
In a similar manner, we should draw close to Jesus with great faith by receiving the sacraments, especially by making frequent confessions of our sins. The sacraments are where our souls make contact with Christ. Confession of our sins with repentance in our hearts brings Christ's healing grace in our lives. Let us always be grateful for such a great sacrament, in which Jesus gives His priests the authority to forgive sins.
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