1 Minute Gospel. Let go

Reading

Mk 2:1-12

2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Meditation

The miracle performed by Jesus to heal the paralytic in Capernaum shows the role of faith in activating the healing power of the Lord. The use of the Greek verb aphiemi, "let go", indicates that the remission of sins operated by Jesus' is an act of complete liberation for the suffering mankind.

As narrated by the evangelist Mark the remission of sins is attributed directly to Jesus, for this reason he is accused of blasphemy. The accusation against him comes from the doctors of the law and not from the people. Often the very ones who should lead the way confuse light with darkness.

Jesus does not just preach in the synagogue, but he uses every time and place to teach the crowds and heal the sick, like a simple house, on a weekday. Since the incarnation of the Son, the kingdom of God has been among us, the Risen One and the Spirit that he has given us also act beyond the confines of the institutional places of worship.

The fact that the paralytic is carried on a mat indicates the severity of his desease; he is probably quadriplegic. The "daring" way in which the friends of the paralytic try to lead him to Jesus attests not only their faith but also the great compassion for their sick friend. Their gesture testifies the great power of the intercession of believers.

Jesus forgives the paralytic's sins instead of making a direct gesture of healing, attesting that the root from which all evil springs is sin; not necessarily individual sin (as Job's account demonstrates), but what entered the world by the Evil One and makes humanity jointly and severally liable. Jesus cures the effect, which is the disease, by removing the cause, which is sin.

Forgiving the sin and carrying out the healing with an indicative formula ("Your sins are forgiven"... "I tell you...") Jesus implicitly declares his own divinity.

The commandment to go away with his bed to the healed man attests that, although he carries with him the sign of his previous illness, he has fully recovered his strength and is ready to set out again by doing God's will. Sin can leave deep scars in us, but for the grace that is given to us in Christ we must look at them letting fear go away, to express love and gratitude towards the one who took care of our wounds.

Prayer

Make us, Lord, aware of the need to be healed by you and freed from the snares of sin; so that we can resume, with renewed vigor, the race towards the glory of your kingdom. Amen.

- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona