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.”
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.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.”
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.I want to start by bringing your attention to the fact that Jesus saw “their” faith, meaning the other people that brought the paralytic, and then looked down at the paralyzed man and said “your” sins are forgiven.
I cannot think of a more poingnant example in the bible of the power of petitionary prayer. Jesus wants us to know that our prayers are efficatious. That when we show love for our fellow man, we move Jesus’ heart to action. We must never forget this, and if you have lost children, or wayward friends, that your prayers for them do not go unheard. They will be answered in time and in His way. We must have faith and trust in God’s will and goodness.
Next, we should look at the ‘granting’ of forgivenes. We in the modern world have a tendency to miss how big a deal it was for Jesus to say this to the paralized man. In the jewish world you could only be forgiven of sin if you made a pilgrimage to the temple, offered a sacrafice, and if God was moved by your sacrifice, then God would forgive you. For a “man” to claim this ability, while outside of the temple walls, was beyond ridiculous to them, and this is why the pharisees called it blasphemy. But then, to prove His divinity, Jesus gave the sign of the physical healing to prove to all present, that He was indeed the Lord.
This must have been an incredible thing to witness, much less to be the paralytic that can now walk. but what is even more amazing is that the pharisees did not get it. they walked away from this moment not astounded that the messiah was here, but that they were upset that He broke the law, and claimed to be God. Bogged down in the law, they totally missed the miracle. How often does this happen to us in our own lives, and in our interactions with other people? Let try to be better today.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh lord, help me today to not miss the miracle, to see your healing and redemptive work all around us. So that I can praise and worship you completely, and be redeamed as well. Amen.