We have one of the most cinematic scenes in the Gospel today. A paralyzed man is brought to Jesus, but the crowd is too thick. His four Frie...
We have one of the most cinematic scenes in the Gospel today. A paralyzed man is brought to Jesus, but the crowd is too thick. His four Friends do not give up. They climb the roof, dig a hole, and lower the man down. This is a beautiful image of intercession. Sometimes we are the paralyzed one, unable to move, and we need friends to carry us. Other times, we are called to be the carriers—to lift up a struggling friend, a child, or a spouse to the feet of Jesus. We need a community of friends who will not let obstacles stop them from bringing us to the Lord.
When Jesus looked up, Mark tells us He saw their Faith. Not just the faith of the paralyzed man, but the faith of his companions. This is a comforting doctrine: our faith can benefit others. A mother’s faith can help her child; a friend’s faith can help a friend. Jesus honors the collective faith of His people. He sees the effort, the sweat, and the trust involved in digging through that roof.
Jesus then offers the man Forgiveness. "Child, your sins are forgiven." The scribes were shocked—they expected a healing, not an absolution. But Jesus knows that spiritual paralysis is far worse than physical paralysis. He goes to the root of the problem. He heals the soul first, then the body. He proves He has the power to forgive sins by healing the man’s legs. The greatest miracle is not walking; it is a heart washed clean of sin.
Challenge: Who in your life is "paralyzed" by sadness, sin, or trouble? Don't just watch them suffer. Be a friend. "Carry" them in your rosary or prayers today, and lift them up to Jesus.
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