In today's Gospel, Mark 2: 1-12, some friends of a paralytic man bring him to the house where Jesus is healing the sick. The crowd has blocked entrance to the house, so the men climb up on the roof, create an opening and lower the paralytic man. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him. 'Child, your sins are forgiven." Some scribes who were in the house object and, in their minds, accuse Jesus of blaspheming: "Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus knows what they are thinking and says to them: "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth'--he said to the paralytic, 'I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home'!"
Who are you, am I, in that scene? The persons who bring their friend to the Lord for healing? the paralytic in need of Jesus' healing? the scribes who question Jesus' authority? or part of the crowd seeking healing from Jesus? You or I may be any or all of those persons!
We might ask ourselves the following questions: What in me, like the roof or the crowd, blocks Jesus from getting to me or me going to Jesus for healing? From what do I need healing? What keeps me, also, from helping others in need of healing? Am I willing to do whatever it takes to help others or am I one who blocks others from getting the help they need from the Lord and from others? Furthermore, am I one questioning Jesus' authority; or, when God works through another person, am I one who is accusing them of overstepping their authority?
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