Friday of the
First Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 4:1-5.11; Mark 2:1-12)
The man was having a hard time. He moved out of his parents’ house to marry a
divorced woman. When the marriage didn’t
work out, he came back to his parents but slept on a bed in the basement. He seemed to feel unworthy of the dignity of
having his own room. Some would say that
he could not forgive himself for marrying outside the Church. But is it not more the case that he refused
to accept God’s forgiveness? Today’s gospel
offers some insight into the dynamic.
When Jesus tells the paralytic that his sins are
forgiven, nothing is mentioned of the man’s emotional state. Perhaps, he believes that Jesus’ word is as safe
as a ride on a mule. He then gives a
sigh of relief that his past no longer threatens his eternal life. At least he can raise his head in public again
because he acknowledged accepted forgiveness.
However, the scribes – Jesus’ law-obsessed adversaries –take
umbrage. They object that Jesus presumes
divine power by claiming to forgive sins.
Jesus then shows that he indeed has supernatural power. He commands the paralytic to walk. The healing dramatizes the meaning of
forgiveness. It enables sinners to walk
freely in public.
A therapeutic society speaks of the need to “forgive
oneself.” People believe that they are accountable
mostly to themselves for their faults.
We Christians, however, should realize that God made us for Himself. That is, we live to give Him praise and glory. Our sins compromise this mission. For this reason we seek first and foremost God’s
forgiveness. Often we need to ask
forgiveness of others as well. Our sins
may have hurt people directly. Perhaps they
also injured the family or community’s name.
We need to ask forgiveness all around to walk truly free.
