Homily of the Day
January 18, 2019
The most advanced medicine today cannot instantly cure any illness. It takes time and effort of the physician, the cooperation of the patient and the working of any medicine or procedure to achieve a cure. Yet in today’s Gospel, the cure of the paralytic was done instantly, at the word of Jesus. Nobody can cure instantly, except God. The teachers of the Law were correct in thinking that only God can forgive sins.
Sin and forgiveness, while real, are not concrete tangible realities. Thus, when, because of the faith of the paralytic and of those who brought him, Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic, the teachers of the Law saw him as one committing blasphemy, doing or pretending to do what only God could do.
Did the teachers of the Law believe that Jesus was indeed God when he cured the paralytic by his instant word, “but now you shall know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”?
In the Church, Christ has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation where, through the action of a priest, God forgives sins. We thank God for his merciful love for us and for his never ending readiness and graciousness to forgive us.
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Hebrews 4:1-5, 11
View Readings Psalm 78:3-4, 6-8 Mark 2:1-12
Similar Reflections
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME?
“I command you: Stand up! Pick up your mat and go home.” —Mark 2:11
Will you receive “the promise of entrance” into God’s rest (Heb 4:1), that is, will you be with the Lord forever in the perfect happiness of heaven? “Therefore, while the promise of entrance into His rest still holds, we ought to be fearful of disobeying lest any one of you be judged to have lost his chance of entering” (Heb 4:1).
By ourselves, we are unable to obey the Lord and enter eternal rest. We are spiritually paralyzed. Our only hope is to come to Jesus just as we are. We need to be carried to Jesus through the intercession, evangelization, redemptive suffering, and service of the members of His Church (see Mk 2:3ff). Jesus in His mercy will say to us in our spiritual paralysis: “Your sins are forgiven” (Mk 2:5). At this point, we can receive the grace to repent and accept Jesus as our Savior, Lord, and God on His terms. If we are freed from our paralysis and become children of God (Jn 1:12), we will enter heaven where we belong, that is, with our heavenly Father forever.
Jesus is the only Way to our Father in heaven (Jn 14:6). Accept Jesus. “Rise” and “go home” to heaven (see Mk 2:11).
Prayer: Father, may I repent and bring joy to heaven (Lk 15:7, 10).
Promise: “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” —Mk 2:10
Praise: Being in community has helped Dorothy grow spiritually and remain faithful to the Lord and His Church.