Friday, January 13, 2023

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 4:1-5.11; Mark 2:1-12)

Two generations ago people began to see themselves as free of sin.  It was particularly evident in the Catholic Church when few came to confessions.  A generation before people lined up for confession for hours on Saturday afternoon.  Then the lines shriveled until a half an hour was all the time needed for the few who came to ask forgiveness.  Without this sense of sin today’s gospel and Jesus’ whole mission make little sense.

Jesus preached God’s love for everyone, including those who sinned greatly.  He died on the cross to free humans from the punishment their sins deserved. He taught that they need not worry over past sins if they accepted God’s love and turned away from evil.  To show that his message was authentic, Jesus healed the paralytic after pronouncing the forgiveness of his sins.  The paralytic himself showed faith in Jesus’ message by exerting himself and others to be put in his presence.

We too must exert ourselves by acknowledging our sins despite a generation that avoids the subject.  We also need to exert ourselves by confessing our sins to a priest.  The exercises serve us well.  We are relieved of the punishment our sins merited.  We also can live with the firm hope of experiencing the fullness of God’s love.


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