Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The healing of the paralytic is a particularly powerful one for the unique fact that there are friends who carried this man for his eventual healing. Jesus healed the man because of the faith of the friends! This isn’t just a nice story; it communicates powerful spiritual realities.
The people carrying the stretcher do so out of genuine care and concern for their friend. It seems that faith isn’t just an individual gift, but something that builds up others and can even bring about their healing. Their action, their initiative, leads to Christ’s action. It requires a certain cooperation with Christ’s saving plan, which starts in the heart of the individual believer, as we heard, and spreads to everyone gathered there who end up being “struck with awe” and “glorifying God.” Many glorify God on account of the few who were strong in faith.
It’s worth further reflection: How does your faith positively impact those around you?
Reflection by Fr. Paul Sheller, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections