Carrying Each Other to Jesus - Weekday Homily Video

“Faith brings the needs of others to our sight and faith in Jesus gives an inspiration to be the ones who help heal the sick and help anyone in difficulties.”

In today’s gospel we have this paralyzed man who is brought to Jesus by people probably friends or neighbors to Jesus for healing. These friends must have had great faith in Jesus that He could heal, for it is not easy to carry a human being lying on a stretcher. These men were carrying a full-grown man on this stretcher nobody knows how heavy he might have weighed.

Healing Body and Soul

We don’t read anywhere in the scripture that these friends said anything to Jesus by way of explaining their wish or desire. Jesus knew that their action of kindness was driven or inspired by their strong faith in Him. What is striking here is that, rather than immediately healing the man’s physical condition, Jesus tells the paralyzed person, “Take courage, your sins are forgiven”. Indicating that the person needed first spiritual healing before the physical one could take place.

Because of the faith of the friends that brought him, Jesus extended forgiveness to him. The scribes and the pharisees quickly took offense labelling the act as blasphemy. Why? For them, only God had authority to forgive sins. Well, Jesus not only proved to them that his authority came from God, but he also showed the great power of God’s redeeming love and mercy by healing the person of his physical ailment. Jesus freed this person from his burden of sin and restored his body as well.

Carrying One Other

It is obvious, that the paralytic person could not have been able to bring himself to Jesus, so some people carried him. We are sometimes called upon to carry someone or some people to Jesus, probably not necessarily in a physical sense, but in an emotional or spiritual sense. Our friends or a friend may be paralyzed by anxiety or distress due to a variety of challenges in life.

They need us to journey with them until they emerge out into greater light. Our supportive presence, our listening ear, our compassionate heart, can make all the difference to them. Other times we might be the ones who need others to carry us to Jesus for healing. This goes on to demonstrate to us that our faith, while it is personal, is not private. We need to share the faith of the larger community of believers. Carrying others to Jesus and being open to be carried as well.

Jesus Heals

Jesus also has authority to heal what cripples our minds and hearts. By offering forgiveness to the paralytic, he demonstrates his desire to do the same for us all. He has absolute authority over all the challenges we face or encounter in our lives. (temptations, confusion and despair) He is ready to bring us healing of mind, body and soul. His grace brings us freedom from the influence of Satan and from the bondage to harmful desires and addictions.

We do well to pray for the healing power and love to touch every area of our life, our innermost thoughts, feelings, attitudes and memories. The gospel today, invites us to reflect on all those who have carried us to Jesus, who helped us to come to know the Lord in all his healing and merciful love. Let us allow the risen Lord to work through us to bring others to him. “Faith brings the needs of others to our sight and faith in Jesus gives an inspiration to be the ones who help heal the sick and help anyone in difficulties’’.

• Today’s Readings
  
  
• Father Fulgens's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
  
  
• To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join, too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)