Daily Gospel Reflection for January 16, 2015

Today's Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

Jesus was already drawing a crowd. So many people had followed him home that it was impossible for them all to get into the house. That was the “before” picture in today's Gospel reading.

When the paralyzed man is lowered through the roof, Jesus makes the impossible claim: “Your sins are forgiven.”

The scribes overhearing this are more than scandalized: A righteous man, a prophet, speaking this way? Claiming for himself a right reserved to God alone?

As the age-old observation puts it, once he started claiming divine rights, Christ had crossed into the territory of either a lunatic or a bad man.

To which charges our Lord answers not with arguments, but with action: Watch this. Why yes, I do possess the power reserved to God alone.

Ponder:

In the long stretches of “ordinary time” in our lives, it's easy for doubt and cynicism to circle around us. Can you remember a time in your life when you felt the undeniable power of God?

Pray:

Lord, I believe: Help my unbelief! Sustain me, Lord, when I am overwhelmed by doubt and loneliness and impossible odds. Let me see your hand in my life. Amen.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Jennifer Fitz