Father Frank Formolo, LC
Luke 5: 17-26
One day
as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the
law, who had come from every village of Galilee and
Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power
of the Lord was with him for healing. And
some men brought on a stretcher a man who was
paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and
set him in his presence. But not finding a way
to bring him in because of the crowd, they
went up on the roof and lowered him on
the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front
of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
“As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Then the scribes
and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this
who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive
sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in
reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which
is easier, to say, ‘your sins are forgiven,’ or
to say, ‘Rise and walk?’ But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth
to forgive sins”—he said to the one who was
paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher,
and go home.” He stood up immediately before them,
picked up what he had been lying on, and went
home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and
they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said,
“We have seen incredible things today.”
Introductory Prayer:
Lord you are the author of all things and
you have power to forgive sins. Though my faith is
still weak I do believe in you. And I
also trust in your goodness and mercy. Here I am
before you in prayer, longing once more to love
you with all my mind, heart, soul and strength.
Petition: Lord, help me to seek you
in my life above all else.
1. The Pharisees’ Faith: The
Pharisees sat in front of Christ watching him cure
the sick. Earlier they had seen many other miracles,
but despite what they saw they could not bring themselves
to believe in Christ. Miracle after miracle couldn’t change
their mind. Jesus decides to give them a decisive
miracle so that they will believe. He decides to cure
the paralytic to show his power to forgive sins.
Since disease for the Pharisees was a sign of
sin, they should have been ready to accept Jesus’ message
of healing and forgiveness. But they were too wrapped
up in seeking their own plans and protecting their
own honor to discern God’s loving mercy behind what
they witnessed. How often do we want God to give
us a sign so we can follow his plan?
And how often are we not open to what he
tells us, simply and directly because we’re too focused
on achieving our own plans?
2. The Paralytic’s Faith: The paralytic
needed no signs. He believed Jesus could help him.
His faith was so strong he would not let
the difficulties overcome him. He couldn’t walk so he found
someone to carry him. When he arrived he couldn’t
get to Christ, so his men brought him in
through the roof. He was determined to see Christ because
he knew what Christ could do for him. His
faith was so strong it moved him to action.
He had a living faith, which goes far beyond mere
ideas. His faith moved him to find our Lord
no matter the difficulties. What have I done to seek
Christ, to meet him face to face? What have
I been prepared to do in order to receive his
grace? Do I give up my prayer or my
apostolate at the first difficulty?
3. For God’s Glory: Jesus
didn’t perform this miracle for himself or his own
glory. He sought only God’s glory. We see how
everyone glorifies God after the miracle. It’s almost as if
Christ is forgotten. Christ sought only to do what
would glorify the Father. How often do we seek
our own glory when we work on the apostolate or
perform an act of charity? How often do we
hope someone will remember us and say “Thank You”
although we are here to build Christ’s Kingdom for God’s
glory alone? We need to constantly renew our purity
of intention.
Dialogue with Christ: Lord, how great
was the faith of the paralytic! He was humble
enough to find you and strong enough in his faith
that nothing could keep him from you. Grant me
the gift of a humble heart and a strong
faith so I can be constant and dedicated in seeking
to encounter you in my life and in fulfilling
your will for your glory and the good of others
alone.
Resolution: Today I will look
for solutions to the problems that come my way,
and I will renew my intention to perform my duties
for God’s glory throughout the day.
Spiritual Life
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