GOSPEL REFLECTION, FRIDAY, 1ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, 16 JANUARY 2026, ST ANTHONY, ABBOT

Mark 2:1-12.  After the healing of a paralytic man in Mark’s gospel opposition to Jesus began to grow.  He had just completed a circuit of Galilee preaching in synagogues.  Now he has just returned to Capernaum, which had become a sort of headquarters for his ministry in Galilee.  Capernaum was a sizeable town, with its houses facing right on to the street.  When the main door was opened in the morning, people could come and go freely.  On this occasion the house became crowded.  Jesus took the opportunity to preach yet again.  As he preached, the roof was opened above the crowd so that a paralytic man could be lowered into his presence.  It would have been difficult for him to be brought in by the door because of the crowd in the house.  Some scribes (religious lawyers of the time) were present, observing, likely taking notes of Jesus’ actions.  They were checking up on Jesus who had now become such a prominent, and, to them, someone who needed to be examined closely in case he mis-stepped in religious matters.  However, Jesus did recognise the faith of those who had brought the man into his presence for healing.  Turning to the paralysed man, Jesus said, “your sins are forgiven,” and the scribes objected strongly ‘in their hearts.’  They thought, ‘this is blasphemy; only God can forgive sins!’  Here is the beginning of opposition to Jesus which will now continue until his death.  In Jesus’ day illness and possession by evil spirits were believed to be the consequence of sin.  Jesus then told the man to ‘stand up, take your bed-mat, and go home!’  The man did so; he was healed!  Many of those present were mazed, glorifying God, saying, ‘we have never seen anything like this!’

The issue at stake here is faith – faith of the people who brought the man, the man himself, and the faith of those present.  Some believed and trusted in Jesus, others did not, and some now decided to oppose him.  Faith involves a choice, not just of intellect, giving a sort of intellectual assent; not just of the emotions; not just of the body – but a trusting response of the whole person, rooted deeply in their ‘hearts,’ the whole of their inner being.  That is what is before us in today’s gospel reading.  Where do we stand? – with the people who brought the crippled man, or the man himself – or with the scribes? – or with those who were amazed and glorified God?