(Audio)
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
None of us receives forgiveness without relying on the spiritual assistance of others. Often it is the faith of our parents who first lower us into the baptismal font for our healing. Yet even an isolated adult who discovers the truth of Christianity in books before seeking out baptism still does not arrive at the baptismal font by his own power. Jesus reminds us, "apart from me you can do nothing" (see John 15:5). Even the most isolated of converts still relies on the prayers of those with faith and the ministrations of the angels to keep him safe unto baptism. And none of the baptized perseveres to eternal life on their own strength. We are made to carry one another. And the faith by which we carry each other is not an achievement of ours, but is itself already a gift of grace which we could never earn.
“Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
If Jesus were not the Son Of God it would indeed be blasphemous for him to suggest that he could forgive sins. After all, these sins were not against Jesus as a man. It was God who needed to forgive these sins. Jesus did not simply make use of the existing system of sacrifice on behalf of this sinner. The scribes thought that the sacrificial system was the only way to forgiveness. But Jesus knew that such sacrifices were only signs. True forgiveness could only come from the Word of God spoken. So, as God, the Word of God, when Jesus said ‘Your sins are forgiven’ they truly were. How scandalous this must have seemed to the scribes! It was the scandal of the particular. Why this man, at this time, in this place? It only made sense if he were truly God's son. It was similar ever since, when God "had given such authority to men" in the priesthood of the Church. Why this specific means in these specific places? It only makes sense if priests share in the one priesthood of Jesus, if they really can speak the word in his name.
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins”–
he then said to the paralytic,
“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
The healing of our souls is meant to have visible consequences in our lives. And there are two ways that this is true. When we a spiritually healed we are set free from spiritual paralysis. We become free to love, we receive the joy and the peace, and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit. Yet we also set about the work of healing even the corporeal afflictions of the world, sickness, poverty, and injustice. It is both of these signs together that reveal the inner reality. They are the evidence of the power of Jesus at work in the Church.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
If the Church does not seem so impressive in our own time it isn't because we haven't been called to seek the reconciliation of the world with God. It isn't of a lack of a call from our Pope to get out into the world and show love. It may well be because not enough of us are responding with faith. We each individually have trouble coming to Jesus for forgiveness but can't be bothered to carry the stretcher of our neighbors.
If the LORD sends us prophetic visionaries like Amos (or Pope Francis, our Father Scanlon, or Ralph Martin) let us not drive them away simply because they are inconvenient. Let us instead hear the words that the LORD is speaking to us and come together and respond as a people of faith. Even harsh prophetic words are always directed only toward our mercy. If we seem powerless to respond, the lesson of the paralytic shows us that we need not do so alone.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
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