Luke 5:17-26 NRSVue
17One day while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem were sitting nearby, and the power of the Lord was with him to heal., 18Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19but, finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. 20When he saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” 21Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, “Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 24But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the one who was paralyzed—“I say to you, stand up and take your stretcher and go to your home.” 25Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. 26Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen incredible things today.”
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Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
The patient is not stretchered on the corridor, as sometimes happens in our
hospitals, but lowered through the roof, a helpless paralytic.
Reflection
Lord, you do not want us to be helpless, immobile, or dependent on others for
our every movement. You give us energy and dynamism, tell us to rise, take up
our bed, and walk. You give us life, and more abundantly than before. No room
for self-pity or learned helplessness. You ask each of us to take charge of
our own life.
Reflection
Only God can forgive sin. That is why the scribes and Pharisees thought that
Jesus was speaking blasphemy. The Pharisees and scribes did not miss the
implication of Jesus' action: he was implying that God's power to heal and
forgive sin was made manifest in his own words and deeds.
Reflection
Not only did Jesus forgive sin, he gave his apostles the power to do the
same. Where can I find that power at work today?
Reflection
When I come to pray, I do not come alone. I bring before Jesus all those
people whose needs I know, all those for whom I have hopes. I lay them before
Jesus so that they may receive the help and healing they need.
Reflection
Jesus speaks forgiveness to me. I receive the healing that he offers and ask
to understand the new life that Jesus has in mind for me.