Mark 2: 1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.”
And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Relentless Belief
A friend once said to me, “you don’t know how to quit, do you?” When I asked if they meant that I don’t know when to quit, they said “no, I’m pretty sure you know when to quit, you’re just too relentless to actually do it.” Whether they meant it as one or not, I took it as a compliment.
Today’s Gospel is a story of relentless faith and determination. Relentless doesn’t mean aggressive; it means steadfast, creative, and bold. The friends of the paralyzed man refuse to let anything get in their way - they lift, they climb, they carry, they break, they lower - and above all else, they believe. Why else would they go through so much if they didn’t believe - relentlessly - that Jesus would heal their friend.
There will always be obstacles that get in our way of bringing our needs or the needs of others to Jesus. Yet today’s Gospel reminds us that relentless faith, rooted in love, has the power to transform.
—Jackie Schulte is the Dean of Faculty Formation and a history teacher at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska.
Prayer
Lord, teach me to be relentless in faith. Help me to see obstacles as invitations to be steadfast, creative, and bold in my pursuit for you. May my relentlessness be rooted in love, always believing in the transformative power of your compassion and mercy. Amen.
—Jackie Schulte
Pray with the Pope
The Holy Father’s Monthly Prayer Intentions Brought to you by Apostleship of Prayer the first Friday of each month.