C - CHÚA NHẬT 7 THƯỜNG NIÊN 7TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Dành Cho Các Em)

[Dan Lee]

CHÚA NHẬT 7 THƯỜNG NIÊN 7TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Mc 2, 1-12



Sau ít ngày, Chúa Giêsu lại trở về Capharnaum. Nghe tin Người đang ở trong nhà, nhiều người tuôn tới đông đảo, đến nỗi ngoài cửa cũng không còn chỗ đứng, và Người giảng dạy họ. Người ta mang đến cho Người một kẻ bất toại do bốn người khiêng.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.



Vì dân chúng quá đông, không thể khiêng đến gần Người được, nên họ dỡ mái nhà trên chỗ Người ngồi một lỗ to, rồi thòng chiếc chõng với người bất toại xuống. Thấy lòng tin của họ, Chúa Giêsu nói với người bất toại rằng: "Hỡi con, tội lỗi con được tha". Lúc ấy, có một ít luật sĩ ngồi đó, họ thầm nghĩ rằng: "Sao ông này lại nói thế? Ông nói phạm thượng. Ai có quyền tha tội, nếu không phải là một mình Thiên Chúa". Chúa Giêsu biết tâm trí họ nghĩ như vậy, liền nói với họ: "Tại sao lòng các ông nghĩ như thế? Nói với người bất toại này: 'Tội lỗi con được tha' hay nói: 'Hãy chỗi dậy vác chõng mà đi', đằng nào dễ hơn? Nhưng (nói thế là) để các ông biết Con Người có quyền tha tội dưới đất".

Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"



Người nói với kẻ bất toại: "Ta truyền cho con hãy chỗi dậy, vác chõng mà về nhà". Lập tức người ấy đứng dậy, vác chõng ra đi trước mặt mọi người, khiến ai nấy sửng sốt và ngợi khen Thiên Chúa rằng: "Chúng tôi chưa từng thấy như thế bao giờ".

He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

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7TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Readings
Is 43:18-19,21-2224b-25

2 Cor 1:18-22

Mk 2:1-12



Questions for reflection

Do you know the healing power of forgiveness and reconciliation?

2. Do you allow anything to keep you from Jesus?

3. Do you look to the Lord with expectant faith for wholeness of body, mind and soul?

4. Pray for the generosity of heart to forgive someone who has offended you.


Reflection
The Hebrew word “Halak” means “to walk.” A person who walked in God’s ways was a righteous person; a person who did not walk in God’s ways was a sinner. This background is the basis for today’s reading of Jesus curing the paralyzed man. The paralyzed man could not walk, which was a sign that he was a sinner! Jesus tells him, “Your sins are forgiven.” It is interpret to mean, “Now you can walk the way of the Lord!” When questioned by the Pharisees, Jesus says, “Which is easier: For me to say “Walk the ways of the Lord” or to say “Stand up and walk?” It is a miracle for what Jesus had said and because of his play on words, the Pharisees were speechless. The paralyzed man is healed spiritually and physically.

In the first reading, Isaiah tells us not to hang on to the guilt of the past. Let it go. God is merciful; he does something new in forgiving your sins. The second reading tells us to be a person of our word. What others see must be the genuine you. Our yes must mean yes, and our no must mean no. Many people think that their sins are too great even for God to forgive. Many are plagued by guilt and are weighed down by the past. The Lord tells us that we can “let it go,” because He lets it go. Once we are forgiven, let us be the persons of absolute integrity: our yes meaning yes, and our no, no.


Prayer
Lord Jesus, through your merciful love and forgiveness you bring healing and restoration to body, soul, and mind. May your healing power and love touch every area of my life. Pardon my offenses and transform me in the power of your Holy Spirit that I may walk confidently in your truth.