The Gospel today recounts how the paralytic was brought to Jesus by others. So, there are two miracles of faith. Do I bring others to Jesus, if not by my actions, then by my prayers? Am I aware that others come to Jesus because of my cooperation, my help, my prayers? Is my faith equal to that of those who cooperated with the paralytic in his desire to be healed?
To believe means to live in a fraternal union with others. It is never a solo adventure. True prayer is never an isolated exercise. As we reflected earlier this week, we are members of one body, the Church, in which Christ is the head. When a prayer is answered we rejoice; when it is not answered, we pray that it will be, according to God’s will.
Secondly, the Gospel tells me Christ cured more than the man’s body. He forgave him his sins, much to the shock of the scribes. Only God can forgive sins. So, to be fully cured means to accept the fact that I am so loved by God that my sins are forgiven.
Resolve: In the light of the lessons Jesus gives me in today’s Gospel, I shall spend some time thanking Him for His presence in my life and asking Him to strengthen my desire to bring others to Him for healing and hope.