Daily Gospel Reflection for December 6, 2021

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Margaret Ann Stimatz

Today's Gospel: Luke 5:17-26

Picture Jesus sitting before this teeming crowd, and suddenly a great commotion draws every eye in the place upward towards the roof. Tiles are being tossed aside. Through the large resulting hole, a team of men lowers a man on a stretcher. Front and center, they lay him at Jesus’ feet. What on earth is happening?

Now, zoom in on the men who pulled off this feat. These guys were on mission.

Their hearts were torn by their friend’s misery: they had to get him to Jesus. Nothing could stop them. Not a huge crowd, and certainly not a mere handful of roof tiles. Armed with a creative plan, and willing to risk looking like fools, these men launched into a little heavy lifting.

What can their example teach us? Don’t we all love a friend or family member who is ‘paralyzed’ in some way, deeply in need of Jesus? During this Advent and Christmas season let us each resolve to “carry the stretcher” of that person closer to Jesus.

Ponder:

What is stopping me from helping a loved one connect with Jesus?

Pray:

Thank you, Lord, for my desire to share You with _________(name). Inspire my thoughts about how to proceed. Help me take whatever risks are needed to put into action what You inspire me to do. And please, Holy Spirit, assist [his/her] heart to open up to the graces You are offering.