Dec 6th St Nicolas

 Dec 6th 2021

Today's Gospel

Luke 5:17-26

'Your sins are forgiven you: get up and walk'

Jesus was teaching one day, and among the audience there were Pharisees and doctors of the Law who had come from every village in Galilee, from Judaea and from Jerusalem. And the Power of the Lord was behind his works of healing.

 Then some men appeared, carrying on a bed a paralysed man whom they were trying to bring in and lay down in front of him. But as the crowd made it impossible to find a way of getting him in, they went up on to the flat roof and lowered him and his stretcher down through the tiles into the middle of the gathering, in front of Jesus.

 Seeing their faith he said, ‘My friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ 

The scribes and the Pharisees began to think this over. ‘Who is this man talking blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ 

But Jesus, aware of their thoughts, made them this reply, ‘What are these thoughts you have in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven you” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he said to the paralysed man – ‘I order you: get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.’ And immediately before their very eyes he got up, picked up what he had been lying on and went home praising God.

They were all astounded and praised God, and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today.’

Comment:

It seems that the authorities heard about Jesus and sought Him out to see what he was up to.

When they heard Him say, "...Your sins are forgiven you." it made them angry, for, only God can forgive sins. 

Then He performed the miracle and healed the man and He walked "home praising God". 

Do we know that we are sinners too, that we need to be forgiven, that we need to repent? 

This is much more important for our spiritual health than any cure of a physical nature. 

You are my God.

Help me to know when I offend you, Lord, to come to you, because I  need your forgiveness. 

Help me to be like you and forgive those who hurt me. Even when it is the hardest thing to do. 

Help me also to ask forgiveness of those I have hurt. 

 Today, 6th Dec,  is the Feast of St Nicolas ( Santa Claus)

Find out all about him here

The St. Nicholas Center