Forgiveness with God

Today’s Gospel Text:  And when he returned to Caper'na-um after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he said to the paralytic -  11 "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." 12 And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" Mark 2:1-12

Reflection: Surely, who can forgive sins but God alone!

Thank you Lord for the scribes whose foolishness in not recognizing your holy presence has given us such a beautiful insight into your great mercy, forgiveness and presence in our midst.

Thank you Lord for enduring their foolish and stupid wisdom. 

Indeed God alone can forgive sins and what a solid assertion from the Scribes about this truth that no generation will ever doubt that because even Jesus did not dispute this statement of doctrine.

But how many of us have approached God for forgiveness of their sins and found forgiveness easily, with their conscience never doubting his great mercy to forgive?  

How often we end up immersed in guilt and shame and all sorts of discomforts, with a feeling of a great sense of remorse. Some want to run away from God because in their hearts they feel burdened that the holy and righteous God will never forgive them.

There are some who want to end it up completely even as they find themselves bruised with the guilt and shame which now begins to haunt them so as to hurt. 

Imagine if there were no human or real divine intervention in such situations, where would mankind end up.

And then even if there are human interventions they are there only to deceive us into acts which are contrary to our nature; either encouraging us further into the trap or exhorting us into a spirituality of amnesia or repression.   Many swallow it as the truth on account of the physical healing it brings about or the momentary peace they are able to achieve.

God knows and understand our situation better and how vulnerable we are to deception. Hence he has sent us a proven savior in his Son who is trustworthy and proves his love and the truth thereof by his sacrificial death on the cross. 

Fortunately for us Catholics we have this intervention of God through the sacramental ministry in the church for the forgiveness of sins and how may avail of it? 

Prayer: “If thou, O Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?  But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. Ps 130:3-4

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