Get up, pick up your mat and walk

Get up, pick up your mat and walk

1 When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.
2 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.
3 Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
4 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.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,
7 "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8 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?
9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'?
10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he said to the paralytic --
11 "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home."
12 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!" (NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Here you have the case of a miracle made entirely due to the faith of some men who cared for a sick man.

These men went into a lot of trouble to get the paralyzed man up on the roof, then they made a hole on the roof and lowered him before me.

Their faith gave them determination to get the job done, they knew that I could heal their friend and took many risks. They knew that it was impossible to get through the crowd, so they used their imagination to accomplish their desire.

I was very pleased with that act of faith. But I did not come simply to heal physical diseases, since all men are destined to die one day. I came to heal the soul from the disease of sin that paralyzes and leads to eternal death.

Before I could heal the man physically, I had to clean his soul, therefore on account of the faith of his friends and of his suffering I said to him "Son, your sins are forgiven."

By calling him son, I am showing everyone how I feel for all my sinful children. I feel the same as a good doctor before the sick who are in desperate need of healing, I want to heal everyone, I want to forgive the sins of the whole world.

My response to the Pharisees goes also to those who do not believe in my words, because they protest against the truth. To prove to you that the Son of Man has the power to forgive sins, I said to the paralytic: ”get up, take up your mat and go home.”

I gave my Church power to forgive sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. I commissioned my apostles (John 20:21-23), their successors and those empowered by them as priests, since this is the reason why I came to the world, to forgive sins.

By my death on the cross I paid for the offenses of all humanity, my forgiveness continues when you repent of your sins.

I made my forgiveness available to everyone. Take courage, approach me and confess your sins through a priest anointed by my Church.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary