Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
We heard in the Scriptures this week, that the Lod was unable to enter the towns and villages openly because of his healing of the blind man. Today the Lord returns to his home in Capernaum "after some days"! And it becomes know that he was at home. The people cannot wait to come to his home to see him. And crowd was immense, so much so that the door to his home was blocked by the people, keeping any more from entering. Then 4 friends of a paralyzed man bring the man to Jesus' home for the Lord to heal him. But there being such a throng of people that they could not enter the house, they decide to climb to the roof of Jesus' home and open it up, in order to lower their friend to Jesus.
Just imagine the thoughts of those people inside the house! What in the world is happening. But the Lord sees their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:5) But the scribes were not happy. How dare Jesus forgive sins! So the Lord responds, "Which is easier to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?'" And they were amazed when the man picked up his mat and went home.
As we look forward this week to the beginning of Lent, will we be amazed at the healing power of the Lord in our midst this Lenten season? Will we even be looking to find miracles in these 40 days?
This Sunday our response to the first reading is, "Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you." Isn't that the truth in our lives? We have sinned, we need his healing in our lives.
May the season of Lent bring us such healing.
I encourage you to use the Lenten materials on our website during the next 4o days.