Healing the Paralytic
One
In today’s Gospel, we learn where and how to encounter Jesus. Jesus is teaching in the house of Peter, just as he teaches us through today’s house of Peter: The Church. It is in Peter’s house where another miracle takes place, the same house where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. This Church—our Church—is a house of miracles. We read in Mark, “…many were gathered there so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door. And Jesus was preaching the word to them. And they came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay.” (Mk 2: 2-4.) There are two details that make this passage relevant: #1. Mark tells us, “when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mk 2: 5.) Jesus performs a miracle based on the faith of the men who lowered the paralytic, not the faith of the paralytic. And #2. Forgiving the man’s sin is accompanied by the healing of his paralysis. Jesus goes right to the source of this man’s problem—his sin. Sin is a kind of paralysis, preventing us from coming to God. Thus, persevering faith coupled with the forgiveness of sins overcame physical and spiritual paralysis. This same action can be accomplished by believers on behalf of unbelievers! We can bring others to the House of Peter, where Jesus teaches, so that they may be healed. We should never lose hope for loved ones who seem paralyzed in their journey towards God. Do I ever feel like my sins are so bad that I am paralyzed and can’t come to God? Do I persevere in faith, even when circumstances may work against me? Do I seek Jesus in Peter’s house?
Two
The crowds surrounding Jesus were so large that getting to Him seemed impossible. However, it is this fact that reveals the undaunted Faith of the four men carrying their friend. They used their ingenuity and came to Jesus by another means, climbing the roof, working to remove the tile and thatch, and lowering their friend. This persevering faith is what amazed Jesus. Part of the reason that people we love fall away from the Church is that other people prove too big of an obstacle to reach Jesus. And Jesus appears too inaccessible and therefore unconcerned. No doubt, bad example and feeling disconnected from God’s blessings lead many to identify as non-religious or religiously unaffiliated; paralyzed in their inability to know what’s true. That’s what makes the role of the paralytic’s friends so important: they carry him despite obstacles. Despite the other people who block us from Jesus, despite Jesus’ apparent remoteness, and despite the paralysis of their friend. For these reasons, when Jesus sees their faith, He heals miraculously! Jesus, grant me the undaunted Faith to be healed of my sin, and bring others to your healing love.
Three
St. Thomas Aquinas comments on this verse as follows, “This paralytic symbolizes the sinner lying in sin; just as the paralytic cannot move, so the sinner cannot help himself. The people who bring the paralytic along represent those who, by giving him good advice, lead the sinner to God.” (Commentary on St. Matthew, 9, 2.) To live this Movement of the Holy Family, to live with mission and purpose in our lives, we must have the same holy initiative, this kind of courage and boldness to pursue God, even on behalf of others. Our Lady has given us such a simple means, the holy Rosary, to pray on behalf of souls. Especially for those most paralyzed by sin, indifference, or indoctrination. By our Faith, others may be healed. But we can’t live our Christian life in isolation. We have a mission on behalf of the world, to pray together, especially the rosary, and to sacrifice together for the good of others. We need to keep our Faith strong, even when the conversion of sinners may seem hindered or not happening at the speed we want. Patience, perseverance, and trust are key to this kind of mission and faith. Wait patiently, do what you can, and trust that God will work a miracle in His time.
Four
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the room in our Church where miracles take place. It doesn’t matter how paralyzed I am with sin. It doesn’t matter how sick I am due to my vice. It doesn’t matter how distant I may feel from Jesus. It doesn’t matter how people seem to get in my way and make it hard to be with Jesus. When I go to confession, I meet Jesus and a miracle takes place. My sins are destroyed, and I can rise, take up my stretcher, and go home! Countless times I have left the confessional feeling exhilarated and free! I am relieved from the burden of guilt and worry, and this is one of the many reasons I love being Catholic. I come to the House of Peter and go to confession to be free! Now, sometimes I leave the confessional not feeling changed, or still feeling guilty for things I did or didn’t do. But those are just feelings, and feelings aren’t reality. We must have trust in Jesus, waiting for us in the house of Peter. So, I ask you, when was the last time you went to confession? When was the last time you invited someone to go with you? Perhaps there is someone or several someone’s in your life who are far from God and seem paralyzed in their ability to come to Him. Invite them! If they won’t come with you, then carry them in your heart to the nearest adoration chapel and bring them to Jesus there. Pray for them there. You are just as assuredly bringing them to our Lord as the four friends carrying their paralyzed friend to Jesus.
Five
When some of the scribes sitting there at Peter’s house heard that Jesus forgave the man’s sins, they doubted in their hearts, saying that only God could forgive sins. “Who is this man who claims to forgive the paralytic his sins? That is blasphemy!” Their hearts have been hardened by vanity and pride, and their gossip hardens their hearts even more. Contrast the scribes with the paralytic’s friends. The Scribes seemed to be good, holy people; yet their petty, envious gossip circle prevents them from encountering Jesus. The paralytic’s friends on the other hand, aren’t afraid to associate themselves with someone socially inferior. And they aren’t afraid to cause a commotion, to look weird, or offend the scribes. Their hearts are set on Jesus, and together they seek Him. Jesus, help us to stop our envy and gossip. Help us to be good friends, who bring others to you, and help us find others who have the same mission. Jesus, bless this Movement of the Holy family. In this decade, we bring all those we love to your healing hands.