Sunday Gospel Comment
Alberic Jacovone OSB
YEAR B SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - 23.2.03 Is 43,18-19.21-22.24-25; 2 Cor 1,18-22; Mk 2,1-12 Faith Factor: it pays! Need for total well-being. Today’s story is about paralysis: a decease that -as its Greek noun suggests (‘para = all-over & lyo = loosened’), takes away the ability to contract, stretch & move our muscles. The story unfolds in a way that, the reader is thrown in the scene, and made to react, taking sides with the paralytic - the bearers - the crowds or grumbling opponents: each with their own logic. Mark is exposing the disagreements that were rampant in his own days between Jews & Christians, or between Christians of Jewish origin & Christians of other origin. The underlying logic is: Jesus is God’s Son; so, he has authority to forgive sins or guilt; and thus bring about inner healing & total well being. This is what Jesus did. Mark’s logic is simple: look at the facts, then ask questions. Recap what Jesus has done: in the Synagogue he displays great power, freeing a possessed man ‘with authority’; in Peter’s home he expresses gentle care, curing the mother in law; in the street he heals many sick people out of concern for human disabilities; towards an outcast he acts with indignation: he chooses to touch the leper, thus upholding his human dignity, and curing him. In today’s story Jesus values the determination of four people who, because of the crowd dare to bring the sick person from the roof, and thus draw the attention of Jesus. As we marvel at what is going on, we begin to realize that at times, ‘faith’ reaches where other methods cannot arrive. Even today, people are re-discovering that faith, prayer and religion have the ability to generate in us a power to heal, survive and remain hopeful at times of stress & decease - excess drinking & drugs - delinquency & near death. In the prevailing unbelief of our age (when so many, teach that religion would be a ‘harmful variable’ and that to bring up patients with religion would be unethical), the importance of the ‘faith factor’ continues to make a difference: indeed, it adds many years of serenity and becomes an ally in repairing our lives, reducing delinquency, dependency, hopelessness etc. The point of the story. Four good people go through considerable bother to bring their sick friend to Jesus & ask for a cure. Jesus appreciates their sincerity & says to the man: ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’. At first, together with the crowd, we remain puzzled by Jesus’ words: is this what the four men are seeking for their friend? what’s sin got to do with paralysis? Is Jesus suggesting that any sickness is connected with personal sin?.... We get even more side-tracked when the opponents of Jesus grumble over who has authority to forgive sins. They are right of course in saying that only God forgives sins... But, because they refuse to admit his real identity, Jesus discloses his power as deriving from God. What Jesus is saying to his audience, and Mark saying to us is this: stop blaming yourselves for this or any ailment, stop being angry at yourself and being guilty. God has set his gaze on you and he loves you as you are. And whatever wrong you may have done, he has forgiven you and wants you to know that you are special in his sight. The point of the matter is that healing, any inner or outer healing, starts only after we have experienced inner peace & reconciliation with God & ourselves & others. The ‘faith factor’ aims at the total person; it does not attack antibodies in isolation; it deals with heart & mind as well. Indeed: inner deeper healing is more needed, as deeper hurts are more damaging. Healing the total person & caring for the total well-being, is capable of producing amazing results and outstanding options, when other methods are of no avail. ______________________________________ |
