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Vocation Meditation -
February 19, 2012
Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed 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.’
Today's Gospel highlights, among other things, the importantance of our small acts of friendship in bringing others to God and to the relationship He intends for each of them.
This paralytic - whether he wanted to or not - needed to come close to Jesus, to be in His presence, in order to receive His words of healing and hope.
And through the grace of God, this paralytic had four friends (or family members) who cared enough about him to bring him, stretcher and all, before the face of the Lord.
How often do people refuse the chance to spend time with their God? How often are we "paralyzed" by our fears and insecurities? After all, if we are healed and allowed to walk in the presence of God once again, what responsibilities will we need to undertake?
Yet here, because some people decided to do something small for their friend, that friend is the subject of a miracle and a second chance at a life dedicated to God.
Vocation challenge:
"Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them."
Do I do the heavy lifting that You want me to do, carrying others into the presence of Your son?
Lord, I find it difficult sometimes to think of others, to think of what they might need in order to get as close to You as possible. Let me, with Your grace, "do the heavy lifting" necessary to bring my friends and colleagues into your presence.
For the full Gospel reading for this Sunday, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site.