 |
“Christ Healing the Paralytic” by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo 1617 - 1682
|
Commentary:
Reading I: 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a
Commentary on 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a
The story of Samuel’s life is concluded with a request from the people for him (Samuel) to appoint a King to “judge” them. Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abijah had been appointed as Judges but were seen as corrupt, hence the statement “…your sons do not follow your example.” Samuel is concerned over the people’s request because he believes that they should look to God as their only king but God tells Samuel to give them what they ask for. This he eventually does, but not without warning them first of the damage they will suffer as a consequence. They continue with their desire: “We too must be like other nations.” Ultimately Saul is appointed as King.
--------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:16-17, 18-19
R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Commentary on Ps 89:16-17, 18-19
Psalm 89 is a lament of the community. This first section is prophetic and reiterates the strength of the Davidic Dynasty. With clear focus on the people of God, these strophes are part of the song of praise for God who is the true shield and king.
CCC: Ps 89 709
--------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12
Commentary on Mk 2:1-12
The story of Jesus healing the paralytic begins a series of conflicts between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees in Mark’s Gospel. The story clearly demonstrates the connection between healing, faith, and forgiveness. When Jesus tells the paralytic his sins are forgiven, the Scribes immediately understand the revelatory nature of the statement. Only God has the authority to forgive sins. Since they do not believe Jesus is the Messiah, his words are blasphemy, a charge they will bring out again later at his trial. Later in the Gospel, Mark attaches even more importance to faith as a component of healing.
The Lord’s response: “…the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth,” is probably directed at St. Mark’s Christian audience rather than at the scribes or the paralytic in the story. Jesus' identity is then confirmed by the miraculous action that follows, as the paralytic is told to rise, pick up his mat, and go.
CCC: Mk 2:1-12 1421; Mk 2:5-12 1502, 1503; Mk 2:5 1441, 1484, 2616; Mk 2:7 430, 574, 589, 1441; Mk 2:8 473; Mk 2:10 1441
--------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
The story of the paralytic brings into sharp focus the link between forgiveness and healing. At the ten thousand foot level, Jesus comes into the world as a sacrifice of atonement. Thinking of the Jewish tradition at the time, the only way it was believed that God would forgive sins was if the Priests of the Temple offered a sacrifice on the altar. This had to be done in a prescribed way. The sacrifice was an animal offered for a specific individual or family, with the animal to be sacrificed either purchased by the ones whose sin was being expiated or supplied by them. We supply this detail so the reaction of the scribes present could be explained. The story says the Scribes were thinking: “’Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?’”
Let us for a moment consider “forgiveness.” Forgiveness has a number of elements and is frequently misused. When we say we forgive a person it may mean that we have released that person from a claim of vengeance as a consequence of some injury. In other words, the wrong we have forgiven will not be answered with reprisal. If a person is rude or perhaps even physically abusive to us we can say we forgive them, but our intent is only to tell them we will not retaliate. In our minds we may still hold significant resentment toward that person. In that case, while one of the definitions of forgiveness may have been satisfied, we have not forgiven as God would forgive, and certainly the positive spiritual effect on the one doing the forgiving would not be felt.
Forgiveness as God offers it is complete. There is not residual resentment, there is no future retaliation; there is only love. The best example of we find in our human existence is the love between a parent and their child. When a child does something hurtful to the parent, the loving parent forgives the child because, even though the action was hurtful, their acceptance of that child’s failings is tempered by the love they have for them. That same level of forgiveness is what Jesus calls us to, as he demonstrates the effect of his forgiveness on the paralytic.
We are called to be like the Lord, to emulate him as best we can. And what we discover when we try to emulate his love and forgiveness of others is that we ourselves find the peace only he can offer. In forgiving others we find our own forgiveness. In emulating Christ’s forgiveness we understand how he can forgive us.
Today we ask God for forgiveness from all the ways we have offended him. We beg for the strength to forgive others and, even more difficult in some cases, to accept God’s forgiveness. It is one more way we find his healing peace dwelling within us.
Pax
[1] The picture is “Christ Healing the Paralytic” by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo 1617 - 1682
No comments:
Post a Comment