Meditation Minutes

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“My son, your sins are forgiven.” In today’s Gospel reading (Mark 2:1-12), Jesus is visited by a paralytic man. The reading tells us that Jesus was busy preaching to a large crowd. There was no more room, “not even about the door.” Four men were carrying a paralytic man. Because they could not get to Jesus, “they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay.” Because of their deep faith Jesus said to the man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus healed the man of his greatest affliction; he forgave the man of his sins. The scribes were not happy with Jesus because only God could forgive sins and therefore Jesus was claiming to be God. Jesus sensing what was in their hearts said to the crowd, “Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise, take up your pallet and walk'?” To prove who he was, he commanded the paralytic man to walk again. The crowd responded, “We never saw anything like this!” These people witnessed the true healing power of forgiveness. So what was the greater affliction, the man’s sins or being paralyzed? It was obviously his sins. By the faith of the paralyzed man and the four men who brought him, Christ freed this man from his sins. This is the same freedom we can experience after reconciliation. As we remove the sins that afflict our body, our soul becomes free to walk again. The burden of our sins can paralyze us and hold us back. It is difficult and humbling to have a deep and sincere confession. Sometimes we have to tear the roof off our house to expose the sins which keep us from Christ. It is our desire for forgiveness that yields freedom from the sins.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you are so kind and merciful.

Your forgiveness heals my soul and my body.

May your love consume and control my life, my body and my soul.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon