The Catholic Calendar for Friday, January 12, 2001
First Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Hebrews 4:1-5,11
Psalm 78:3-4,6-8
Mark 2:1-12
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
Very often we hear the expression: 'God's ways are not our ways'. In
today's Gospel, Jesus preaches to the crowds in Capernaum. He heals a
paralytic and the crowds are astounded. Yet, to heal the paralytic of
his physical disability was not the Lord's primary objective. His
first response was to forgive the man of his sins. He then healed the
man's physical disability with the only purpose to convince the
scribes of His divine authority to forgive sins.
This is an interesting lesson for all of us. We are all very
concerned with the externalities of life, the transient aspects of
our lives. We like to see the miraculous, to see the outward display
of God's wondrous healing power in the here and now. We are often
reminded however that God works in other more mysterious and hidden
ways, perhaps not visible to the human eye. God tends to work in the
longer-term, contrasting to our short-term demands:)
To receive forgiveness of our sins is to be freed of the shackles of
darkness which impedes our view of God's light. To enjoy the fullness
of God's presence is the quest for every Christian. Yet,
interestingly and humanly so, the crowds at Capernaum were more
preoccupied with seeing the external temporal display of miraculous
power rather than seeing Jesus' true healing power through the eyes
of faith....Is this the same for us to?
- Cliodhna Doyle
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