Reading: Luke 5:17-26

While the Lord Jesus is teaching, many people come to that place. Who come? What is their intention? What do they seek or think of Jesus?
Pharisees and Doctors of the Law: they have come from all over, we are even told that they have traveled from Jerusalem. But they are not interested in knowing who Jesus is, nor in listening to his message. They come to judge, to look for an excuse to condemn him and to safeguard the religious system that is convenient for them.
A paralytic and his friends: They have a great need, physically, for health. And there is great hope and great faith that Jesus is the answer.
What is revealed there? Again, that Jesus is the Son of God made flesh. Because that’s what we men need to know. Who this Jesus is. And He reveals His identity to us by showing His Power to forgive sins.
The Pharisees cannot see it. Their eyes are closed. Their hearts are hardened. They are indignant, angry, scheming and seeking to punish the blasphemer. How dark!
The paralytic and his friends have received the gift of that faith that saves, that makes it possible to know Jesus, his mercy and his forgiveness. A faith that does not hesitate to open a roof to come to Him. And they hear from the Savior’s lips the most beautiful words, “Your sins are forgiven you.”
To make it evident that Jesus has authority to forgive sins, the paralytic receives (in the eyes of all), the miracle of his healing. And they all marvel at what they have seen and heard.

MEDITATE: How wonderful that our hearts have been touched by the Lord! How precious it is to have heard from his lips “your sins are forgiven you”! How sad that the pride of the Pharisees prevented them from seeing the beauty of Jesus!