1st Reading: Heb 4:1-5, 11
Gospel: Mk 2:1-12

Jesus returned to Capernaum. As the news spread that he was at home, so many people gathered that there was no longer room even outside the door. While Jesus was preaching the Word to them, some people brought a paralyzed man to him. The four men who carried him couldn't get near Jesus because of the crowd, so they opened the roof above the room where Jesus was and, through the hole, lowered the man on his mat. When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now, some teachers of the Law who were sitting there wondered within themselved, "How can he speak like this insulting God? Who can forgive sins except God?" At once Jesus knew through his spirit what they were thinking and asked, "Why do you wonder? Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man: 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say: 'Rise, take up your mat and walk?' But now you shall know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." And he said to the paralytic, "Stand up, take up your map and go home." The man rose and, in the sight of all those people, he took up his mat and went out. All of them were astonished and prasied God saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Jesus knew that teachers of the Law were struggling with their stubborness, even after they had seen more than enough of Jesus' power to be convinced of the fact that he was he messiah, foretold in the Old Testament. "Why do you wonder?" Jesus asked in exasperation. God forgives us and make us whole? Only unquestioning faith and acceptance are an antidote to stubbornness and disobedience. Placing these things in front of our mind's eye, we can easily see why the world is so filled with stubbornness. Without it, God would not be able to display anything, not His power nor strength, nor His love. When we encounter stubbornness or unbelief as to the truth, we can bow our heads and pray that we don't despair, but that we will rest at peace with God's will and mercy to us all.