The paralytic man
The paralytic man
Gospel
Reflection 1
Through the Roof-The search for healing
On this fifth Sunday of Great Lent, we reflect on the profound healing of the paralytic man, a miracle unlike any other performed by Jesus. While the Gospels recount numerous instances of healing, they shed light not only on the number of miracles but also on the essence of these miracles.
The healing of the leper demonstrated social restoration, welcoming the marginalised back into the community. Similarly, the healing of the bleeding woman was about the healing touch of faith and self-acceptance. In the parable of the prodigal son, we witness the healing of the soul through the transformative power of repentance.
This Sunday's Gospel reveals a touching truth: it is the collective responsibility of the church community to bring the suffering before the Lord for healing. In the case of the paralytic man, his salvation was achieved through the faith and actions of those who carried him to Jesus.
The paralytic man did not take the initiative, did not ask, did not speak, and did not even thank. Instead, he carried his bed and walked, while all the importance is given to the faith of the four men who carried him to Jesus. This miracle shows the role of the community, which is to carry the weakest, the poorest, and the sick before Jesus, the Healer and Forgiver.
“Stand up and take your mat and walk”; these are three acts that Jesus asked the paralytic man to do. Jesus wants to raise us up from the darkness of this sinful world by the power of His love, His Word, His forgiveness and His Eucharist.
A thought for the week
The faith of the four men helped the sick man - he was healed by ‘their' faith. Our faithful time of prayer may help people we know or do not know. All Christian prayer reaches out to many.
We are called to a conversion of heart
If we were in the same situation as the paralytic man, we would be one of the many who would queue up to have our diseases or ailments cured. However, we are in much less of a hurry to benefit from the forgiveness of sins. It is easy for us to explain our physical ailments to the divine miracle worker, but we have much difficulty in talking about our spiritual ailments. We find it a burden to admit our weaknesses to God and to others. We are called to a conversion of heart. Jesus can change our hearts. He is the author of all reconciliation. Jesus came with a new law of love and forgiveness, the kind of love of which God alone is capable. It is there for those free enough to experience and accept it. Gwen Simon
Reflection 2
The Divine Physician
Today’s miraculous healing is remarkable on many levels. Jesus healed the paralytic man because of the faith of the four men who brought the paralytic man to him for healing, deliverance and reconciliation.
When Jesus forgave this man’s sins before He healed him, He wasn’t forgiving a particular sin that caused the man to be paralysed. Jesus is essentially saying to the man, to the crowd and to all of us that we can’t be restored until our sins are forgiven by God.
Therefore, the first thing Jesus did was to heal his sins. The physical healing came later.
As Pope Francis frequently says, everything Jesus did — preaching, teaching healing — was meant to bring about forgiveness, the reconciliation of the human race with God.
Jesus’ desire is to give us forgiveness. Unfortunately, human beings desire is to be like others rather than like God. This is the work of evil that aims to make us fall into sin.
Rise, get up and pick up your mat; these are three acts that Jesus asked the paralytic man to do. Jesus wants to raise us up from the darkness of this sinful world by the power of His love, His Word, His forgiveness and His Eucharist.
Do you stand in the way?
Often without even thinking of what we are doing, we do stand in the way, blocking the access of others who want and need to get to Jesus.
A thought of the week
When we don’t have an awareness of our sins, we become blinded and paralysed and will struggle to forgive others.
Gospel
Reflection 1
Through the Roof-The search for healing
On this fifth Sunday of Great Lent, we reflect on the profound healing of the paralytic man, a miracle unlike any other performed by Jesus. While the Gospels recount numerous instances of healing, they shed light not only on the number of miracles but also on the essence of these miracles.
The healing of the leper demonstrated social restoration, welcoming the marginalised back into the community. Similarly, the healing of the bleeding woman was about the healing touch of faith and self-acceptance. In the parable of the prodigal son, we witness the healing of the soul through the transformative power of repentance.
This Sunday's Gospel reveals a touching truth: it is the collective responsibility of the church community to bring the suffering before the Lord for healing. In the case of the paralytic man, his salvation was achieved through the faith and actions of those who carried him to Jesus.
The paralytic man did not take the initiative, did not ask, did not speak, and did not even thank. Instead, he carried his bed and walked, while all the importance is given to the faith of the four men who carried him to Jesus. This miracle shows the role of the community, which is to carry the weakest, the poorest, and the sick before Jesus, the Healer and Forgiver.
“Stand up and take your mat and walk”; these are three acts that Jesus asked the paralytic man to do. Jesus wants to raise us up from the darkness of this sinful world by the power of His love, His Word, His forgiveness and His Eucharist.
A thought for the week
The faith of the four men helped the sick man - he was healed by ‘their' faith. Our faithful time of prayer may help people we know or do not know. All Christian prayer reaches out to many.
We are called to a conversion of heart
If we were in the same situation as the paralytic man, we would be one of the many who would queue up to have our diseases or ailments cured. However, we are in much less of a hurry to benefit from the forgiveness of sins. It is easy for us to explain our physical ailments to the divine miracle worker, but we have much difficulty in talking about our spiritual ailments. We find it a burden to admit our weaknesses to God and to others. We are called to a conversion of heart. Jesus can change our hearts. He is the author of all reconciliation. Jesus came with a new law of love and forgiveness, the kind of love of which God alone is capable. It is there for those free enough to experience and accept it. Gwen Simon
Reflection 2
The Divine Physician
Today’s miraculous healing is remarkable on many levels. Jesus healed the paralytic man because of the faith of the four men who brought the paralytic man to him for healing, deliverance and reconciliation.
When Jesus forgave this man’s sins before He healed him, He wasn’t forgiving a particular sin that caused the man to be paralysed. Jesus is essentially saying to the man, to the crowd and to all of us that we can’t be restored until our sins are forgiven by God.
Therefore, the first thing Jesus did was to heal his sins. The physical healing came later.
As Pope Francis frequently says, everything Jesus did — preaching, teaching healing — was meant to bring about forgiveness, the reconciliation of the human race with God.
Jesus’ desire is to give us forgiveness. Unfortunately, human beings desire is to be like others rather than like God. This is the work of evil that aims to make us fall into sin.
Rise, get up and pick up your mat; these are three acts that Jesus asked the paralytic man to do. Jesus wants to raise us up from the darkness of this sinful world by the power of His love, His Word, His forgiveness and His Eucharist.
Do you stand in the way?
Often without even thinking of what we are doing, we do stand in the way, blocking the access of others who want and need to get to Jesus.
A thought of the week
When we don’t have an awareness of our sins, we become blinded and paralysed and will struggle to forgive others.