READING 1: Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24B-25
Thus says the LORD:
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
The people I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.
Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob,
for you grew weary of me, O Israel.
You burdened me with your sins,
and wearied me with your crimes.
It is I, I, who wipe out,
for my own sake, your offenses;
your sins I remember no more.
READING 2: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Brothers and sisters:
As God is faithful,
our word to you is not "yes" and "no."
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me,
was not "yes" and "no, " but "yes" has been in him.
For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him;
therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.
But the one who gives us security with you in Christ
and who anointed us is God;
he has also put his seal upon us
and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.
GOSPEL: Mark 2:1-12
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 the paralytic,
"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."
Reflection
Read through the Gospel a few times for this Sunday. First, read through it and put yourself in the position of the paralyzed man’s friends. What would it be like to carry a paralyzed man on a mat through the town? How do you think they felt when they saw how crowded it was? How did they get the courage to climb up onto the roof? How do you think they felt when they watched their friend get up and walk?
Now read through the Gospel again, this time imagine yourself in the position of the paralyzed man. What would it feel like to have your friends carry you through town on a mat to bring you to Jesus? What do you think the paralyzed man expected to happen? Did it matter? Was he just along for the ride? There wasn’t much he could do about anything was there? When you think about it, it didn’t really matter what he thought or believed did it? If that was the case imagine how he felt when he stood up and walked!
Now read through the Gospel one more time, this time as it pertains to you, as you are today. What do you hear? What does it mean to you? How does it call you to change your life? Does it?
Join us Thursday @ 7:00PM in Adoration of our risen Lord, then Bible Study following!
THE DUDE ABIDES Jn 15:4
For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
For those who do not want to understand, no explanation is possible.
Jim Krieger
Lay Mystic
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