When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Child, your sins are forgiven."
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus immediately knew in his mind
what they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Mark 2:5-8
"Child, your sins are forgiven."
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus immediately knew in his mind
what they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Mark 2:5-8
This week's reflection comes from a homily given by St John Chrysostom (c. 347-407). John was born at Antioch and lived as a hermit until he was ordained deacon in 381 and priest in 386. He became well known for his homilies which earned him the title “Chrysostomos” or “the golden-mouthed”.
The scribes asserted that only God could forgive sins, yet Jesus not only forgave sins, but showed that he had also another power that belongs to God alone: the power to disclose the secrets of the heart. They, of course, did not reveal what they were thinking.
Scripture says that some of the scribes said within themselves: “This man is talking blasphemy.” And Jesus, aware of their thoughts, said: “Why do you think evil in your hearts?”
Now only God knows the secrets of the heart.
As the prophet says: You alone know the heart, and: God searches the mind and the heart. And so, to prove his divinity and his equality with the Father, Jesus brought their secret thoughts into the open, which they had not dared to do for fear of the crowds.
...Jesus did not give a clear manifestation of his power when he first spoke to the paralytic. He did not say: “I forgive you your sins,” but: Your sins are forgiven. When the scribes forced him, however, he showed his power more clearly, that you may know, he said, that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins.
Before doing this Jesus asked the scribes: Which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Pick up your mat and go home?” This was the same as asking: “Which seems easier to you, to heal the body, or to forgive the soul its sins?"
Obviously, it is easier to heal the body.
Indeed, as far as the soul is above the body, so far does the forgiveness of sins surpass physical healing. However, since the one is invisible, but the other visible, I grant you as well this lesser, visible miracle as proof of the one which is greater but invisible.
Thus he showed by his deeds the truth of what John had said of him: that he takes away the sins of the world.
Please share your thoughts with us by posting a comment.
The scribes asserted that only God could forgive sins, yet Jesus not only forgave sins, but showed that he had also another power that belongs to God alone: the power to disclose the secrets of the heart. They, of course, did not reveal what they were thinking.
Scripture says that some of the scribes said within themselves: “This man is talking blasphemy.” And Jesus, aware of their thoughts, said: “Why do you think evil in your hearts?”
Now only God knows the secrets of the heart.
As the prophet says: You alone know the heart, and: God searches the mind and the heart. And so, to prove his divinity and his equality with the Father, Jesus brought their secret thoughts into the open, which they had not dared to do for fear of the crowds.
...Jesus did not give a clear manifestation of his power when he first spoke to the paralytic. He did not say: “I forgive you your sins,” but: Your sins are forgiven. When the scribes forced him, however, he showed his power more clearly, that you may know, he said, that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins.
Before doing this Jesus asked the scribes: Which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Pick up your mat and go home?” This was the same as asking: “Which seems easier to you, to heal the body, or to forgive the soul its sins?"
Obviously, it is easier to heal the body.
Indeed, as far as the soul is above the body, so far does the forgiveness of sins surpass physical healing. However, since the one is invisible, but the other visible, I grant you as well this lesser, visible miracle as proof of the one which is greater but invisible.
Thus he showed by his deeds the truth of what John had said of him: that he takes away the sins of the world.
Please share your thoughts with us by posting a comment.
I’ve always loved this story. But what I love in it - is about the love of the friends of the man, and how deeply they wanted a cure for their friend that they went up on the roof, opened it, and lowered the man down close to Jesus. The homilist where I worshiped spoke of this love and the deep confidence that Jesus would cure their friend. And, we were reminded that in life’s journey, we need such bonds with others to help us in the dark time, in the times when we are in need. Sometimes we need them to carry us to the place where we can be healed. The spiritual journey isn’t a solo process, we were reminded, it’s not something we can do by ourselves. We are encouraged to understand that we need both close friends of faith and a deeply caring faith community.
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