The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011317.cfm)
reminds me that God can use the faith of my friends to bless me.
There are people in our lives
that we look up to in the aspect of faith. We ask people to pray for and with
us. There are people whose faith inspires us. And in today’s gospel, we are
reminded that God honors the faith of others and blesses us because of them.
The benefits of
faith are transferrable. Your faith can bless others around you.
The four friends of the
paralytic man had great faith. It was not enough that they made an effort to
carry the man and bring him to Jesus. When they saw a lot of people, when they
saw challenges, their faith shone even brighter. They made the effort to bring
him down through the roof. And when Jesus saw this, especially the faith of the
men, he forgave the man and healed him.
Like stars that shine brightest during the darkest of night, faith shines brightest during the toughest of situations.
In life, we are also faced with challenges. Things don’t come easy. However, we are reminded to have faith for God will honor our faith. We are also reminded not just to have friends who have a lot of faith or who are very spiritual, but be that kind of friend to others. May our faith benefit not only ourselves, but others around us as well.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend coming
up. Lord, I thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you for honoring my faith,
and for giving me friends who pray for me. Lord, sorry for the times my faith
gets affected by the circumstances. Sorry for worrying a lot. Sorry for being
stressed unnecessarily. I ask that you increase my faith. I also ask that
you help me strengthen my faith, not just for myself and my needs, but also so
that I may be able to bless others through it. Use me for your kingdom and your
glory. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflection:
January 13, 2017
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 309
Reading 1 Heb 4:1-5, 11
while the promise of entering into his rest remains,
that none of you seem to have failed.
For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did.
But the word that they heard did not profit them,
for they were not united in faith with those who listened.
For we who believed enter into that rest,
just as he has said:
As I swore in my wrath,
"They shall not enter into my rest,"
and yet his works were accomplished
at the foundation of the world.
For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner,
And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;
and again, in the previously mentioned place,
They shall not enter into my rest.
Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest,
so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.
Responsorial Psalm PS 78:3 and 4bc, 6c-7, 8
What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
we will declare to the generation to come
The glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
That they too may rise and declare to their sons
that they should put their hope in God,
And not forget the deeds of God
but keep his commands.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
And not be like their fathers,
a generation wayward and rebellious,
A generation that kept not its heart steadfast
nor its spirit faithful toward God.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
Alleluia Lk 7:16
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 2:1-12
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
"Child, your sins are forgiven."
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what
they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"
–he said to the paralytic,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
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