Greetings on this the Monday of the Second Week of Advent
Readings: Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14; Lk 5:17-26
Notes
In Advent this message is especially important: journey. For our OCIA candidates I had them read the the first two chapters of the gospels of Matthew and Luke. As they go note the people who meet Jesus and their journey to Jesus. Write down every noun and name. I let them skip the Genealogy of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew as that is way too much for the first effort in study. Where did they come from? How far and long was their travels? And, finally, which of them do you most closely identify with?
We have a journey to make along the holy way. We, the redeemed shall walk it and rejoice. The LORD bids us to return. Enter his courts singing. We will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.
Summary
Today’s scripture readings focuses on the joy of knowing the LORD. Even creation, which modern man basically sees as something to be merely consumed, rejoices in the presence of the LORD. The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. Even the plants know the LORD himself gives benefits and yield. So much more so man.
In the case of man, and his autonomy being respected, man must journey along the holy way. In the gospel portion today, the men who carried him and the man being carried each received divine forgivenenss.
When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”
Because the others did not comprehend the invisible and the breadth of the forgiveness, he repeated it again in the narrower sense so they may understand: 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 man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
This is what is meant by working out my salvation. So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work (Phil 2:12-13).
Reflection
In our gospel portion today we are given the story of The Healing of a Paralytic. His friends knowing of the works of Jesus, the paralytic’s friends carried him on a stretcher to present him to Jesus. Because of the crowds the climbed up to the roof with the stretcher with the man upon it, opened the roof vents and using ropes lowered the friend into the interior where Jesus is and placed him before the LORD. Now that’s a journey!
When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” He said to the man 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.
Personal Reflection
Every time I encounter Jesus I am changed. He inspires me to come to Church. But not just to Church but to the INTERIOR of the Church (under the roof) which within is found the Christ. May you too find the INTERIOR of the LORD. There is forgiveness, healing and joy.
First Reading
A highway will be there, called the holy way. It is for those with a journey to make, and on it the redeemed will walk. Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.
Responsorial
Our God will come to save us!
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
Gospel Acclamation
Behold the king will come, the Lord of the earth, and he himself will lift the yoke of our captivity.
Gospel
One day as Jesus was teaching, 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.” 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.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry