Daily Catholic Lectio
Fri, 12 January 2024
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22. Mark 2:1-12
Faith and protest
Jesus of the gospel of Mark is constantly engaged with different actions, and he is always on the move. The gospel reading brings before us a miracle of Jesus that brings forth two types of responses: faith and protest.
The four people who carry the paralysed man to Jesus and later the crowd have faith in Jesus; the scribes who murmur against Jesus protest in their hearts.
The four people opened the roof to let the paralysed person in. Jesus opened the roof of the people’s hearts and was able to see the thoughts that were in them.
This miracle of Jesus differs from his previous miracles on the following grounds: (a) Instead of touching sick persons, Jesus heals them through his words; (b) Jesus not only heals the disease but also forgives sins, which are believed to be its causes; (c) The miracle happens in public; (d) Jesus reveals himself as the ‘son of man who has authority to forgive sins.’
What are the lessons for us?
(a) The crowd, which was an obstacle at the beginning of the narrative, later turned out to be proclaimers of faith. Are we obstacles to discipleship or proclaimers of faith?
(b) Believing and protesting are the two responses that we can make to Jesus. Faith must overcome obstacles.
In the first reading, the people of Israel ask the Lord, through Samuel, to appoint a king for them. The Lord tells them of the ill impacts that the king would create. However, the people are firm.
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A person can become a bridge or a wall when it comes to taking others to Jesus. The four people that we see in the gospel are the bridges, while the scribes are the walls. Those who are far from Jesus are able to recognise him, while those who are near fail to. It is the distance of heart that needs to be addressed. (Jubilee A.D. 2025, bite 7).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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