FRIDAY JANUARY 12, 2024
FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
1 Samuel 8:4-7. 10-22
Mark 2:1-12
HEALER OF SOUL AND BODY, KING OF OUR LIVES THROUGH HUMAN INSTRUMENTALITY
The choices we make in life will always determine our results and consequences in our lives. The people of Israel in the time of Samuel after years of God being their king and ruler decided to try another method of ruler ship and demanded that they be allowed to choose their king according to the standards of the world around them.
The implications of their demand was made known to them in today’s first readings. The summary of it all is that they will be subjected to slavery and intense dehumanization because of the inclinations of man. We cannot compare the divine ruler ship with human ruler ship.
The gospel of today narrates how Jesus healed the paralytic who was brought to him by four men. The narrative is not about the bodily healing proper but about the fact that Jesus went ahead to restore the man’s total health. The expectation of the people who brought the paralytic was for bodily healing, and restoration of the man’s bodily functions. But Jesus began by forgiving the sin of the paralytic, healing his spirit and soul, restoring the spiritual glory of the man, his relationship with God and his total health was subsequently restore by the words of Jesus.
Jesus heals the man completely, both body and soul. But again, the faith, commitment and dedication of the four men who brought the paralytic must be acknowledged. And that is where we come in. We must be proactive to offer help to people who need our help, to strain ourselves and be always available for people in need. These four men teach us the act of charity and love, support and encouragement to others in need, and the need to particularly present them to God for total healing.
We present people to God in physical help like carrying them to hospital, offering them material help, and giving them support in needs. But we also help people by praying for them, leading them to Christ through preaching, advise, prayers, catechesis and compassion. We must always act and live like these four men who carried the paralytic to Jesus, the source of their being and the healer of their souls and bodies.
Heavenly Father, you are always healing and comforting us. Grant that we may always trust your healing power over our soul and bodily afflictions and submit ourselves and our love ones to you. And whenever we come, Lord we pray, heal us, protect us, empower us and restore our soul to you and our bodies to perfect health through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
