Sunday, February 23, 2003
7^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1^st Reading: Is 43:18-19, 21-22, 24-25

Thus, says the Lord: “Do not dwell on the past, or remember the things of old.

“Look, I am doing a new thing: now it springs forth.

“Do you not see? I am opening up a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

“I have formed this people for myself; they will proclaim my praise.

“You have not called upon me, O Jacob, indeed you were tired of me, O Israel;

“You have not spent money on sweet frankincense for me, neither have you satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.

“Instead you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.

“I it is, I am He who blots out your offenses for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

2^nd Reading: 2 Cor 1:18-22

God knows that our dealing with you is not Yes and No, just as the Son of God, Christ Jesus, whom we—Silvanus, Timothy and I—preach to you, was not Yes and No; with him it was simply Yes. In him all the promises of God have come to be a Yes, and we also say in his name: Amen! giving thanks to God. God himself has anointed us and strengthens us with you to serve Christ; he has marked us with his own seal in a first outpouring of the Spirit in our hearts.

Gospel: Mk 2:1-12

After some days Jesus returned to Capernaum. As the news spread that he was at home, so many people gathered that there was no longer room even outside the door. While Jesus was preaching the Word to them, some people brought a paralyzed man to him.

The four men who carried him couldn’t get near Jesus because of the crowd, so they opened the roof above the room where Jesus was and, through the hole, lowered the man on his mat. When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now, some teachers of the Law who were sitting there wondered within themselves, “How can he speak like this insulting God? Who can forgive sins except God?”

At once Jesus knew through his spirit what they were thinking and asked, “Why do you wonder? Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man: ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say: ‘Rise, take up your mat and walk?’ But now you shall know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”

And he said to the paralytic, “Stand up, take up your mat and go home.” The man rose and, in the sight of all those people, he took up his mat and went out. All of them were astonished and praised God saying, “We have never seen anything like this!

Gospel Commentary

In today’s story we seem to have a miracle occurring almost independently of the man being cured. His sins are forgiven and he is cured, but specifically because of the faith of his friends. What we have here then is a form of faith we sometimes forget about but plays an important role in our lives. When my faith is weak, I need your faith to support me. When your faith is weak, you need my faith to support you. This underscores our mutual support in facing life’s challenges. No one in an island. No one stands alone. Each one needs each other.

Read also: Gospel Reflections by Fr. Gerry Pierse, C.Ss.R. • Biblical Commentaries from Diario Biblico

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