Feb

(Sunday VII, OT B) The Paralysis of Sin

For the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the Gospel reading presents to us Jesus and His authority to forgive sins. The gospel story also records the first of a series of confrontations that Jesus will have with the authorities of Jewish religion. “Isn’t it that there is only one that can forgive sins — God?” the experts of the Law remark. In Jesus, however, God has placed all of His answer to man’s longings, even the forgiveness of sins. To the people gathered at the door of Simon, Jesus forgiving the paralytic of his sins was something new. God however is a God of surprises, so surprising that not even the experts of the Law could see nor understand what He was doing in and through Jesus.

Relevant Articles

Healing the Paralytic
Sunday Thoughts: (Sunday VII OT — B) Forgiving Sins

Other Articles of Interest:

Guide for Reading

The healing of the paralytic is the first of a series of confrontations Jesus has with the religious leaders of Judaism. The scribes some of whom were also members the Pharisees have come to investigate this rising popular preacher from Nazareth. The confrontation is set at Simon’s house and occassioned by a paralytic carried by four men. Take note of the following…

The crowds gather at the door of Simon’s house; the place was so crowded that it was difficult to pass through
Four men carrying a paralytic see the crowd and decide to pass over them, going to the roof and boring a hole through it so that they can let down their sick companion
Jesus sees “their faith” and tells the man that his sins are forgiven.¹
The scribes — mentioned here for the first time — react and talk among themselves accusing Jesus of blasphemy.
Jesus knows their hearts however and goes on to show that he can forgive. Note: Does he deny that only God can forgive?
The proof that Jesus can forgive sins is the healing of the paralytic. Take a closer look at the argument that Jesus verbalizes here. Here is another case in which word and deed comes together: “Your sins are forgiven” and the restoration of the paralytic to health.
The crowds react, saying “We have never seen anything like this” echoing Isaiah 48:7

At issue in this narrative is the authority of Jesus to forgive. Just as in the previous narratives, there is a connection between sickness and the reign of Satan, so here, the narrative shows the connection between sickness and sin. The confrontation with the scribes prepares for the theme of Jesus as the interpreter of the Law (something that Matthew will highlight in presenting Jesus as the New Moses) and its meaning (cf. John 1:1-18). Within this story, however, one can also point out the following ideas

1. Jesus sees the faith of those who brought the paralytic. The paralytic’s faith is not an issue here, but those of the men who brought him. Who were “the four” whose faith called the attention of Jesus? How were they related to the paralytic? (See the suggestions for meditation found here.)

2. In the previous story of the leper (Mark 1:40-45), the liturgy (6th Sunday OT B) made a connection between the leper’s condition and the condition of one in sin². Here, the connection between the condition of the paralytic and sin is tacit. The liturgy for the 7th Sunday highlights this relationship in the use of Psalm 41 (Responsory: “Lord heal my soul for I have sinned against you”.).

3. The reaction of the crowd highlights the new thing that Jesus has done, forgiving sins. The parallel passage in Matthew has: “Seeing this, the crowds were afraid and they praised God who has given such authority (to forgive) to men” (Matthew 9:8). The Matthaean parallel anticipates the Church’s authority to forgive sins.

Comparing the Readings

The liturgy for the 7th Sunday combines Isaiah 43 and Mark 2:1-12. The point of connection is the new thing that the Lord is doing:

Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!

The passage in Isaiah is about the new act of salvation Yahweh is performing for His people. It is new because different from previous acts; it is new because not foreseen. The “new thing” is of course, Jesus, in whose words and deeds the reign of God is becoming a reality. The coming of that reign not only includes the healing of sickness and the driving out of demons but also the forgiveness of sins.

The reading from the Pauline letters (2 Corinthians 1:18-22) which in context is a rebuke against those who accuse Paul of constantly changing his mind, highlights the firm word given by God through Christ. Apostles may change plans because of certain unsurmountable obstacles, but they don’t change minds, just as God does not change his. To all of man’s yearnings, God has given his “Yes” in Christ. So even our “Amen” to Him should be made in Christ. This passage should be easy to relate to the Jesus’ gospel of the reign of God, for the reign of God is all that man longs for.

Suggestions for the Lesson

Read the Sunday Thoughts for this week’s liturgy for some suggestions for the homily or a catechetical lesson. It is best see the passage in the light of the Total Christ, Head and the Body.

1. The Church has the mission to forgive; it is an integral element in her mission of evangelization. This she does not only through sacraments but also by her very life, as it is lived by all the faithful. There are many passages in Scriptures where the faithful are urged to make forgiveness a part of their lifestyle. “Love bears all and forgives all”, writes Paul. Mark 2:1-12 can also be used as a launchpad for a lifestyle check: how are we a forgiving Church in our own families?

2. In the mind of Jesus there is a link between the man’s paralysis and sin. In first century Palestine, sickness was seen as caused by sin. We no longer see sickness in the same way: sin is a theological reality, not a medical one. We can however understand that anything hostile to man — such as a sickness that causes paralysis — is a manifestation of evil that the reign of God dispels. One of the manifestations of the reign of God is the forgiveness of sins in and through the Total Christ, the Head and the Body. The sacrament that directly deals with the link between sickness and sin is the Anointing of the Sick. It is a sacrament that is not often preached about. The 7th Sunday of OT B can be a good opportunity for it.

3. God’s “Yes” to all of man’s longings has been expressed in Jesus Christ. In Jesus, therefore, one finds the answer to man’s deepest hunger. But in Jesus Christ too is man’s response to God. In the Mass we say: “Through Him, with Him, in Him” where “Him” is Christ. This conviction is the basis for the whole of Christian spirituality. A reflection on the words of Paul can lead to an interesting homily on the Christian life as a response to God’s word in Christ.

Matthew 18:21-35
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21Then came Peter unto him and said: Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy times seven times.

23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants.

24And when he had begun to take the account, one was brought to him, that owed him ten thousand talents.

25And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26But that servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27And the lord of that servant being moved with pity, let him go and forgave him the debt.

28But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow servants that owed him an hundred pence: and laying hold of him, throttled him, saying: Pay what thou owest.

29And his fellow servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he paid the debt.

31Now his fellow servants seeing what was done, were very much grieved, and they came and told their lord all that was done.

32Then his lord called him; and said to him: Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt, because thou besoughtest me:

33Shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellow servant, even as I had compassion on thee?

34And his lord being angry, delivered him to the torturers until he paid all the debt.

35So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.

Isaiah 48:7
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7They are created now, and not of old: and before the day, when thou heardest them not, lest thou shouldst say: Behold I knew them.

John 1:1-18
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1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2The same was in the beginning with God.

3All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made.

4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him.

8He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light.

9That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world.

10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name.

13Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15John beareth witness of him, and crieth out, saying: This was he of whom I spoke: He that shall come after me, is preferred before me: because he was before me.

16And of his fulness we all have received, and grace for grace.

17For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Mark 1:40-45
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40And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down said to him: If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

41And Jesus having compassion on him, stretched forth his hand; and touching him, saith to him: I will. Be thou made clean.

42And when he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.

43And he strictly charged him, and forthwith sent him away.

44And he saith to him: See thou tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the high priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.

45But he being gone out, began to publish and to blaze abroad the word: so that he could not openly go into the city, but was without in desert places: and they flocked to him from all sides.

Matthew 9:8
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8And the multitude seeing it, feared, and glorified God that gave such power to men.

Mark 2:1-12
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1And again he entered into Capharnaum after some days.

2And it was heard that he was in the house, and many came together, so that there was no room; no, not even at the door; and he spoke to them the word.

3And they came to him, bringing one sick of the palsy, who was carried by four.

4And when they could not offer him unto him for the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was; and opening it, they let down the bed wherein the man sick of the palsy lay.

5And when Jesus had seen their faith, he saith to the sick of the palsy: Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.

6And there were some of the scribes sitting there, and thinking in their hearts:

7Why doth this man speak thus? he blasphemeth. Who can forgive sins, but God only?

8Which Jesus presently knowing in his spirit, that they so thought within themselves, saith to them: Why think you these things in your hearts?

9Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy: Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say: Arise, take up thy bed, and walk?

10But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11I say to thee: Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house.

12And immediately he arose; and taking up his bed, went his way in the sight of all; so that all wondered and glorified God, saying: We never saw the like.

2 Corinthians 1:18-22
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18But God is faithful, for our preaching which was to you, was not, It is, and It is not.

19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us, by me, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, was not, It is and It is not, but, It is, was in him.

20For all the promises of God are in him, It is; therefore also by him, amen to God, unto our glory.

21Now he that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and that hath anointed us, is God:

22Who also hath sealed us, and given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.