Sunday Readings and Reflections

Theme of the Sunday
Salvation, Gratuitous Gift of GodSEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
YEAR B
FIRST READING: Isaiah 43:18-19.21-22.24b-25
SECOND READING: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
GOSPEL: Mark 2:1-12
INTRODUCTIONThe First Reading tells us that God never abandons us.
The Gospel describes how when a person realises that he cannot be freed from his sins by his own efforts he tries to go to Christ. To meet his Saviour, he needs to be accompanied by somebody who has faith and who will take him to Christ.
The Second Reading invites us to a greater loyalty in practicing the faith we say we profess.
FIRST READINGThe people of Israel were in Babylon. They had been overpowered and humiliated by their enemies and are now wondering why God allowed them to be enslaved. It is not God who has been unfaithful; it is Israel that has refused to listen to its prophets, causing its own ruin. Their sin brought them to their present condition and even now they are failing to worship God as they should.
In this Reading, God tells us that in order to overcome difficult times we must “remember” what God has done in ancient times. If he cannot bear that his people be reduced to slavery, is he not capable of freeing from their sins those who are oppressed by them? God – says the Reading – is the liberator and will once more work the wonders he did in the past. We should not think that the wonderful surprises of his love are things of the past. He will again find a way out of the wilderness and chaos in which they struggle (cf. Is 40:3; Mk 1:3).
The second part of the Reading and particularly the last verse (cf. v.25), contains very consoling statements: there is no sin, no matter how serious, that cannot be wiped out by the love of God. No situation is so desperate that he cannot put it straight. 
SECOND READINGIn the verses immediately before the part we read today, we are told one of the reasons why Corinth criticised Paul: he had decided to visit that community, and for some reason that we are not told, he had changed his mind. His “enemies” took the excuse of this change of plan to attack and belittle him. They went about saying, Paul is the man of “yes, yes”, and “no, no”, you cannot trust him, his “yes” can in no time become a “no” (cf. 2 Cor 1:15-17). The Reading today gives us Paul’s answer. He defends his loyalty and states that he has always been sincere in everything he does, as well as about the message he proclaims. He then adds that he was taught this honesty by Christ, whose life was not “yes” and “no” but always a “yes, amen!” to his Father.
The words of Paul make us reflect on how many “yeses” and “amens” we say in our churches, and then in our lives we change them into a “no”?

GOSPELAfter his description of the “Day at Capernaum”, in which Jesus has demonstrated his authority in his healings, exorcisms and teaching (cf. Mk 1:21-39), Mark now introduces a series of five conflict stories in his life. In this story of the paralytic, he continues to display his authority over disease and he shows that it extends even to the forgiveness of sin. But he meets criticism and opposition from an unexpected quarter. Scribes, the learned and respected people of Israel, accuse him of blasphemy, the charge on which the leaders of his own people will eventually condemn him (Mark 14:64).
In today’s Gospel, the paralytic, because of his physical handicap, depended on others for his basic needs including moving from one place to another. There were no wheelchairs at that time and he had to be carried by others to Jesus. Left to himself, he would never have been able to approach Jesus. However his community came to his help and even though it was difficult to approach Jesus they did not give up. They climbed on to the roof, made an opening in it and let him down on his stretcher right in front of Jesus.
This is a clear example of what it means to be “the keeper of our brothers and sisters”. The whole community assumes the needs of its members, especially the weak and dependant. Like the four men, we can carry each other to Jesus to be healed. This can be through the support we show each other in times of trial, such as sickness, unemployment, difficulties in studies or a crisis in marriage. Our concern can be shown in taking time to be with the other, to talk over the situation or to actually do something. But we can also prevent each other from going to Jesus when we ignore out conscience on social issues and shut our eyes and ears to the sufferings of others.
How can a sinner be returned to life? This healing happens through people, through the Word of salvation proclaimed by others in the Christian community. Are our interior sicknesses still cured by the voice of the Master in our community? In our life we certainly have met “paralytic” persons (a colleague battering his wife, a neighbour constantly fighting with everyone, a woman being unfaithful to her husband…). Did we ever think that it is our duty to accompany them to the house where Jesus is, like the four who carried the paralytic? Are we aware that our community has received from Christ the task and the power to proclaim salvation to all those who are sick? Sinners are unable to walk to Christ unaided; they need to be helped by others who already know and believe in the salvific power of his Word. Aren’t there people who would like to rebuild their lives, if only they had a true friend who would lead them to Christ?

Last Sunday Reflection

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