The healing of a paralytic
ONE day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with Him for healing. 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. When He saw their faith, He said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We
REFLECTION JESUS KNEW THEIR THOUGHTS The Gospel deals with a dispute between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes over Jesus’ power to heal and forgive sins. The Pharisees (literally meaning “separated ones”) and the teachers of the law are a hostile audience looking only for a reason to accuse Him. They find an occasion to do this when Jesus pronounces forgiveness for the sins of a paralytic. Even before they can voice their question, however, Jesus already knows their thoughts. He can read what is going on in their hearts. Jesus also knows that the paralytic needs forgiveness of sins and physical healing. We cannot hide anything from God. God can read our inmost thoughts. Above all, God knows our need for healing and forgiveness of sins. Let us thank God for the gift of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who wants to heal us of our spiritual and physical infirmities.
“Lord… you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.” — Ps 139:1-2