Today’s readings specifically speaks on authority. All powers and authorities comes from God. Man was created with freewill to choose the good. When we fell into original sin, we disobeyed the law and authority of God; consequently rupturing our friendship and relationship with God. The people wanted an earthly king because they wanted to be like other nations. They denied the authority of God as king over them.
Jesus taught with authority but he also wants to heal us from sin and disease. As he was teaching a paralytic man was brought by his friends on a stretcher. They made their way through the roof and lowered him. Jesus knew those surrounding him and said, ‘ which is easier to forgive or to heal.
“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” (vv10-11).
The double cure in today’s gospel is a double experience of physical healing and the forgiveness of sin performed by Christ which is a major theme in Mark’s gospel. Only God can alleviate our suffering. Our sufferings, he bore. Our sins he carried. Only Jesus can teach us the way of salvation if we follow him closely.
God loves you, God is with you, and God is bigger than your problems.
GOD IS BIGGER THAN YOUR PROBLEMS
God is bigger than your problems. The more we understand what he can do, the less afraid we will be when confronted with the problems of life. So, in many respects, we can consider the sign, the indicator that the authority in which Jesus was operating was more important than the actual miracle itself. Why is that? Well, if we concentrate on the outcome of the miracle, to a certain extent, we are missing the point.
The point here is that God is with us, amongst us, operating at all times, but we continually require proof positive. The scribes are asking this question in the Gospel today, how often do we ask ourselves this very question?
The acceptance of God in our everyday lives this there for us all to see. We don’t need a miracle or something supernatural (to us) to prove it. Jesus demonstrated His authority through signs and miracles, we have the evidence in sacred scripture, but it is also closer to home if we look and listen carefully.
God is ever-present and our hope is on so as long as we recognize his presence.
Fr. Osho
