Daily Catholic Lectio. Fri, 17 January ’25. Nothing like this!

Daily Catholic Lectio

Fri, 17 January ‘25

First Week in Ordinary Time – Friday

Saint Anthony Abbot, Memorial

Hebrews 4:1-5, 11. Psalm 78. Mark 2:1-12

Nothing like this!

Today’s gospel reading recounts a remarkable miracle that leaves the people exclaiming, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:12). It is a story that beautifully illustrates how divine grace meets human initiative to bring about unexpected blessings.

Human initiative meets divine grace

There is a saying: If we pray to God for a lottery win, we must first buy a ticket. Indeed, our trust in God does not mean we remain idle. Thirukkural, a Tamil literary classic, in no. 619 wisely points out: even if God cannot help us, our human effort can bring victory. In the Gospel, four men carry a paralyzed friend to Jesus. If the door had been open, they would have walked straight in. But the entrance was blocked by the crowd. Undeterred, they climb to the roof, remove the tiles, and lower the paralytic into Jesus’ presence. Their faith-filled effort unites with Christ’s power – and a miracle follows.

God’s grace is always freely offered, but He typically invites us to do our part. Jesus Himself did not go around asking, “May I work a miracle for you?” Nor did He yield to the devil’s temptation to turn stones into bread. In other words, He never used His gifts simply to impress. Rather, when people sincerely came to Him in faith and effort, He responded with compassion and power.

Jesus heals the root cause

When the paralyzed man is lowered from the roof, Jesus first addresses the deeper root of sickness: “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). The scribes protest, thinking only God can forgive sins. Jesus then confirms His power by healing the man’s physical ailment, telling him to get up and walk.

Notice the paradox: the healing begins not with the body, but with the soul. Jesus shows that most of our external struggles often trace back to something deeper within. Restoring the heart prepares the way for a complete healing that brings glory to God. The crowd is taken by surprise.

Three life lessons for us:

(a) Do not give your talent for free

Just as Jesus did not display His power, we too should value our God-given talents. Using them responsibly and purposefully allows us to serve God and our neighbour better, rather than squandering our gifts or seeking mere admiration. What we are good at, we must never give it free or unasked.

(b) Do what Is required

We should never wait passively for God to do everything. The four men had to act: carrying their friend, climbing the roof, lowering the mat. Our part, though small compared to God’s infinite power, is essential. True faith motivates us to take constructive steps toward the good we desire.

(c) Overcome obstacles and murmuring

The crowd blocked the entrance; the scribes grumbled. Yet none of these obstacles stopped Jesus or the determined friends. When we face resistance or judgment, let us be steadfast. If we firmly believe God is calling us to something, no human opposition should deter us.

Entering God’s Rest

In the first reading (cf. Heb 4:1–5), we are invited to enter God’s rest. This does not mean idleness. When Jesus healed the paralytic, He told him: “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go” (Mark 2:11). God’s rest is not a call to lie on our cot permanently. Rather, it is the joy, peace, and freedom to rise up and follow God’s will.

This “rest” is a state of trust where we rely on the Lord’s strength. Yet it also calls us to get moving, to step forward boldly in faith. The rest God offers includes both inner stillness and outward action, as we partner with Him to accomplish His work.

“Nothing like this” occurs when divine grace meets human initiative. Like those four friends, we too must persevere, be creative, and remain confident that Christ will respond to our faith. And when He does, the result is often beyond what we could ever imagine. Let us treasure our gifts, do our part diligently, and refuse to be discouraged by obstacles. May we then hear those words – “Get up!” – and walk joyfully in the rest and freedom God has in store for each of us.

Today we remember Saint Anthony the Great, the Father of Western Monasticism, who said a firm yes to God when he was inspired by the gospel passage, “Go, sell everything, give to the poor and follow me.” His biography gave Saint Augustine a spark for conversion. What we do in one place will have an impact on someone elsewhere and will bring forth transformation.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy