Thursday

March 5, 2009

Mark 2:1-12

1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Reflection

So here we are again in the Lenten season, promising to give things up, and always struggling to complete the daunting task. During this season I will admit, I typically fail to follow through with those Lenten promises, but when reading Mark 2:1-12 I am always reassured as Jesus forgives both my sins and my paralysis, causing me to again do God’s will in my life. I recently read this prayer pattern from an Anglican group that I believe speaks so plainly, striking right at the heart, urging us to get back up, and follow God’s call again. I urge you to read each line of scripture and then prayer and meditate on the response in bold. I hope that it will inspire you as it did me, to get up off my mat, and WALK!

And again he entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that he was in the house. (Mark 2:1)
Jesus, let it be heard that you are in our homes!

Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And he preached the word to them. (Mark 2:2)
Jesus, we pray that your word will be preached to us week by week throughout this diocese.

Then they came to him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. (Mark 2:3)
Father, we pray that every parish in this diocese will be a place where people are drawn to Jesus for healing.

And when they could not come near him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. (Mark 2:4)
Holy Spirit, give us that same persistence in prayer that these four men had in bringing their sick friend to Jesus.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” (Mark 2:5)
Thank you, Jesus; I was paralyzed by sin and you forgave me. Thank you.

And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:6-7)
Lord, set us free from grumbling, murmuring, and complaining.

But immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, he said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?” (Mark 2:8 )
O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. (Psalm 139:1-6)

“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”–he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Mark 2:9-11)
Holy Spirit, help all of us in this diocese know and proclaim that Jesus has the power to forgive sins.

Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:12)
Jesus, visit us with your mighty deeds. Set us free from the paralysis of “politeness” that keeps us from sharing the good news of salvation. Thank you.

A word received: Pray for God’s children to be drawn back into the fold. Pray for each of us to get up off our mats and WALK, fulfilling God’s will by spreading the Good News!

Written by a PC Senior

Today Please Pray For:

Celtic Cross