Like last week, Jesus is performing his wonders through out Galilee. Not only his wonders are special, but their context too. That is why the Gospel passage of this Sunday is inspiring us with following points:
We read in the Gospel "Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them". This can also be a common line of thought and experience of many; those like to believe in God but have doubt in Him and the in Religions. Especially in their difficult situations God seems to be unapproachable and remote or the religion may not be helping them to reach God. For them religion "is blocking" them to reach God.
Such thoughts are not rare in our time.
For such thoughts, the following part of the Gospel gives an answer.
We will see, the people, who are carrying the paralytic, are not giving up.
They stick on to their faith.
They are taking risks too:
"Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him."
It is good that we have a picture of an ordinary house- roof in Palestine at that time. Such roofs were made of leaves, bark, and might also have had wooden beams for more support. To make a hole in the roof of the house is simple, but it can bring issues. It can lead to some quarrels between the house owner and the people who do the "crime". But all these were not a problem for them; they were sure that Jesus will heal the man and will handle the situation. They were also courageous enough to "disturb the teaching-Jesus" and also to take the risk to "open the roof".
Yes, the faith of the assisting people are surpassing and surprising.
Jesus is praising their faith.
The unmovable faith in Jesus is the answer to such people who doubt in God's power. The faith in God also means to take risks based on faith.
They teach us not to give up soon.
Stick on to the faith in Jesus and he will empower you;
He will do wonders for you.
This is something encouraging us. This is the good news for our life.
But the gospel has a sad part too.
Jesus, seeing their faith, forgives the sins of the paralytic.
But for some of the scribes gathered there found it as blasphemy.
They had right too, then only God can forgive sins.
But the real paradox in this scene is, they cannot believe Jesus as God.
They were all gathered before him in order to listen and learn from his life and teachings. But their presence before Jesus is making no changes in them. They remain the same stubborn and closed. They cannot believe in Jesus.
My friends,
it is not our regular visits to church or various prayers that make us faithful and real followers of Jesus. I am not denying them or discouraging you doing them. They are important external matters of the exposure of our faith, which may guide and foster in faith practicing.
If these visits and prayers are not contributing to some basic changes in our life and faith, then we are not better than the scribes at the time of Jesus.
We remain just a "Crowd" before God,
which may block and hinder other believers in reaching God.
Gospel says they "were all astounded and glorified God".
How do we find our faith and God?
Are they something that is sensational only or
helping me to be more faithful and trusting in God?
Am I an obstacle for others or one among the Crowd before God?
There was a German song from Xavier Naidoo: It can be translated so- "What we cannot do alone, let us complete it together". It is not a religious song, but it is an impulse to grow and live together, to support others.
Let us think on our faith.
May the gatherings and prayer life in the church and in the personal life help us to grow together in faith and trust in God.
God bless us all. Amen!
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Fr Thomas Kalathil
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