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TODAY’S WORD…

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He was preaching the word to them

when some people came bringing Him a paralytic carried by four men,

but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to Him,

they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was;

and when they had made an opening,

they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay.

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– Mark 2:3-4 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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What faith!

What hope!

What determination to take a friend to Jesus!

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Although these people had already made a bold effort, they were still not able to get their friend to reach Jesus.

But still, where others would have given up because of the difficulties they were encountering,

these people did not slacken in their determination

– they remained undaunted and climbed up on the roof.

They removed pieces from the roof right above the place where Our Lord was,

and when they had made a big enough hole in it,

they let down the stretcher with the paralytic on it.

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Jesus was amazed at and moved by the faith and audacity of these persons.

It was because of them

and also because of the humility of the paralytic, who allowed himself to be helped,

that a great miracle took place:

the forgiveness of the men’s sins and the cure of his paralysis.

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In some way, the paralytic represents those who are prevented by their sins or their ignorance from reaching God.

On the other hand, the persons who take the incapacitated man to Our Lord,

are like those Christians who are moved by a deep and loving concern to help others find Jesus.

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As Christians, we are instruments of God’s so that He may work real miracles on our friends,

who if left alone, seem unable for so many reasons to reach Christ…who is waiting for them.

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This is faith with deeds.

This is Christian hope and optimism

and conviction that Jesus is the very person our friends need,

just as much as we do.

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It is important to note

how the people who brought the paralytic to Jesus did not mind at all what others may have thought

about their action which could easily have been judged as extreme, inopportune, and even eccentrically different.

Nothing deterred these people,

only one thing matters to them: to reach Jesus with their friend whatever the cost.

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Such action is only possible when we have great rectitude of intention,

when all that matters is God’s approval,

when we are not interested if others disapprove.

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Do we behave like this?

Are we sometimes more concerned about what other people will say

than we are about what God thinks and what He wants from us?

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Are we reluctant to seem different from other people,

when what God wants

and what the people who see our actions need

is that we should stand out by doing what we have to do?

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When necessary,

do we know how to show our faith and our love for Jesus Christ in public?

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Here I am, O Lord, my God.

Melt me, mould me, fill me and use me…to bring others to You.

I love You, Lord.

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… … … … … … … … … … … …

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Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.