Posted on 12/05/2022 8:20:54 AM PST by fidelis
(Daily readings from the USCCB)
"And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus." Luke 5:18–19
It’s interesting to note that, as the paralyzed man’s faith-filled friends lowered him down from the roof in front of Jesus, Jesus was surrounded by Pharisees and teachers of the law “from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem” (Luke 5:17). The religious leaders came in droves.
They were among the most educated of the Jews and happened to be among the ones who had gathered to see Jesus speak that day. And it was partly on account of large numbers of them gathering around Jesus that the friends of the paralyzed man could not reach Jesus without this radical move of opening the roof.
So what does Jesus do when He sees the paralytic lowered before Him from the roof? He told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven. Sadly, those words were immediately met with severe interior criticism from these religious leaders. They said among themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” (Luke 5:21).
But Jesus knew their thoughts and decided to do one more act for the good of these religious leaders. The first act of Jesus, to forgive the paralytic’s sins, was for the good of the paralytic. But the paralytic’s physical healing, interestingly, appears to be primarily for these pompous and self-righteous Pharisees and teachers of the law. Jesus heals the man so that they will “know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Luke 5:24). As soon as Jesus performs this miracle, the Gospel tells us that everyone was “struck with awe” and glorified God. Apparently, this included the judgmental religious leaders.
So what does this teach us? It shows how deeply Jesus loved these religious leaders despite their exceptional pride and judgmentalism. He wanted to win them over. He wanted them to convert, humble themselves and turn to Him. It’s somewhat easy to show love and compassion to one who is paralyzed, rejected, and humiliated already. But it takes an incredible amount of love to also care deeply about the proud and arrogant.
Reflect, today, upon the love Jesus had for these religious leaders. Though they came to find fault with Him, falsely judge Him and continually tried to trap Him, Jesus never ceased in His attempts to win them over. As you think about this mercy of our Lord, consider also the person in your life who is most difficult to love, and recommit to loving them with your whole heart in imitation of our divine Lord.
My most merciful Lord, give me a heart of forgiveness and mercy for others. Help me, especially, to have a deep concern for those whom I find most difficult to love. In imitation of Your divine mercy, strengthen me to act with a radical love for all so that they will come to know You more deeply. Jesus, I trust in You.
Please keep in mind that this is a Catholic Caucus/Devotional thread for the purpose of prayerful reflection on the Sacred Scriptures and is closed to debate of any kind. Per FR policy on Religion Caucus threads, off-topic, argumentative, and abusive comments are not allowed and will be submitted to the Mods for deletion. Thanks, and God bless you.
Let's cut these guys some slack.
There's no indication that the Pharisees in this particular situation are the prideful types that Jesus excoriates in Matt. 23. They're listening to His teaching.
When Jesus forgives the paralytic's sins, their reaction is perfectly in line with the teaching of the Tanakh: only God can forgive sins, and anyone who claims he can do it is calling himself God, which is blasphemy.
The cognitive shift that must take place in the Pharasaic mind is not that someone other than God can forgive sins, but that since only God can forgive sins, Jesus must be...the I AM in the flesh. Those Pharisees who can grasp this (e.g., Nicodemus) become children of the Kingdom.
I would be the first to defend the Pharisees as whole. I think Christians in general have come to believe ALL of them were out-and-out villains and are too quick to assume they were all like the ones we see fiercely opposing Jesus elsewhere in the Gospels and, later, the apostles in the Book of Acts. The majority of them, however, were probably sincere in their religion and, as you noted, some like Nicodemus even later became Christians.
As for the Pharisees in this particular episode, we aren't directly told why they are present to listen to Jesus. Maybe they were there as sincere enquirers, but we know from other passages they would also often come to find some incriminating word from him upon which they could accuse them.
I don't think that, based on the known motives of some of the Pharisees in the Gospels and Jesus' response to these particular Pharisees perception that he was speaking blasphemy, it is unreasonable in this case to conclude that he is addressing their rush to judgment of his actions here. Then again, I don't see your conclusions as unreasonable either.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?
That's a legitimate question which they had not only the right but the duty to ask. We also have the right and duty to ask that kind of question when modern-day people claim to speak for (or even be) God. Someone might come along claiming to have had a new revelation*; we are in the right to question his legitimacy.
Jesus backed up His claims. His physical healing of the paralytic was the answer: "You're right! Only God can forgive sins. But guess what, guys ..."
*Catholic Caucus, so I'll leave it at that.
Another point: We are surrounded by leaders, both sacred and secular, whose blatant bloody-minded misconduct daily scandalizes us. It is tempting to wish ill upon them, to mentally consign them to The Pit.
This is wrong.
Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that calumniate you. (Luke 6:27-28
Yes, they are our enemies. Yes, they are doing wrong to us.
Still, we must not wish damnation for them. We must, instead, while they still live, pray for their repentance and conversion ... before it's too late.
1 Timothy 2:1-4:
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ..."
Likewise, St Paul asked that prayers be offered on his behalf:
Romans 15:30
I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.
Jesus - The Christ clearly was given authority to forgive sins...
Explaining to the Pharisees..."that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"...
A.D. - Jesus gives that Authority, from God to his flawed Apostles, won by his Sacrifice on the Cross.
“As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”... “Receive the Holy Spirit...
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
The only question remains is that with this progression for forgiving sins,
was it the intention that it should die off along with the Apostles dying off -
Or Not?
Congratulations, you missed the point.
I’m not going to get into details about modern-day people claiming to have “new revelations”.
If you have any further questions about that, take it off line.
Amen.
Pretty sure you “get it” now ...
;’}
Peace, Brother!
Yes, let’s leave it at that as this is a Catholic Devotional thread to share God’s Word together, not to debate theological differences or make snide remarks regarding same. If one has burning need to argue these things, it’s better to start another thread or Freepmail. Thanks!
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