3rd Sunday of the Great Lent (Palsy's Sunday) 8th March 09

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Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Mark 2: 1-12

Dear and Respected Brethren,

When we are looking at the face of our Lord Jesus and listening to Him, we find a bed with a bedridden Palsy patient being lowered to the presence of our Lord from the top of the house, in which, we all are sitting. Even though many of us got disturbed, our Lord did not get disturbed. He was too compassionate to the patient noticing the depth of the faith of the four persons who brought him there and lowered from the top of the roof. Our Lord forgave his sins and told him to go home carrying his bed. In verse 11 of today’s reading we read, “I say unto thee, arise and take up your bed and go your way into your house”

When Jesus saw the faith of the four who carried the sick, He said unto the sick of the palsy “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Verse 5) Does it mean that the person, who was brought to Christ our Lord, was a sinner and due to his sins he was sick? No one could say that the person was not a sinner. He was a sinner but he was not sick due to his sins. Let us think where he sinned and what sort of sin was committed by him. It is to be understood that when he became sick of palsy, he became deliberately despair and disappointed. Depression, despair and disappointment are considered as serious sins. He lost all his hope when he became sick. This must be the reason for the four good people to carry him to the Lord Savior. It makes clear that the patient committed sins after becoming the sick though we are not sure whether he had sinned before becoming sick. But it is sure that he had sinned after becoming sick. From that day he lost his contact with his Lord God. And for this reason we cannot say that his disease/sickness was due to his sins.

We could find so many among our midst also who might behave exactly like this. When something happens unexpectedly in the negative way, they get upset and they lose all their hope, faith and trust. This is a very serious problem. When something happens in our lives against our desires or plans or expectations, we must take them calmly with much patience and faith in Lord God. The greatness remains how we might respond to the problems and trials that might come across our lives. All who will be forced to face the unexpected situations must feel and believe that God Almighty is there to care us and love us and nothing is impossible for Him.

From today’s reading we learn the following truths.
1) Whatever happens in our lives are taking place with the knowledge and will of God. He could save us from all sorts of problems as nothing is impossible to Him.
2) We should not embrace despair or disappointment when something happens against our wish or plan. We must try to face whatever situations might face us.
3) All problems are to be submitted to our Lord God for His disposal. He could sort out them and make them favorable for us.
4) We must rejoice when others might get blessings. In Verse 12 we read about the people who had assembled there. When the palsy was healed they all got rejoiced and they glorified God.

Most of us are not particular to glorify God when we get blessings in the way we have to. If we are not so particular in glorifying God for the mercies and blessings of our own, how we could glorify God for the mercies and blessings enjoyed by others? Let us follow the best example of our forefathers who used to glorify God for the blessings and mercies enjoyed by themselves or others.

May God bless us all

Jose Kurian Puliyeril.