Au In the beginning was the Word
 

1.      The signs that people were waiting for, what seemed to be unthinkable, what was announced by the prophets, are fulfilled in Jesus´ evangelization. Let us see what happened in that house filled with disciples where one of those signs is fulfilled: The lame walk (Mt 11, 5). If we take the passage about the paralytic (Mk 2, 1-12) as an evangelization outline, we can discover in it evangelization constants valid for any time. Even more, we can discover which is our position before Jesus, if we listen to his word in a specific situation.

2.      When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days it became known that he was at home. So many  were gathered that there was no room at the door. Jesus preached the Word to them. Jesus came again in Capernaum, as he was always moving about. He did not tell anyone of his arrival: it became known that he was at home. 

2. After some days Jesus returned to Capernaum. As the news spread that he was at home, so many people gathered that there was no longer room even outside the door. Jesus preached the Word to them. In continuous movement, Jesus comes again into his town. The news was rapid: The voice that he was home spread quickly.  His personality and his mission provoke a special attraction.

3.      The site of evangelization is a house, a humble place, but friendly and with a great power to penetrate the society. Jesus’ community and the newborn church were disseminated using this way (through houses). The house is full of disciples. In this group of disciples gathered together one sees something fundamental for the dissemination of the Gospel: the community

4.      Something special has to happen in that house so packed with people that no more can enter. The key is this: Jesus announced the Word to them. He does this in a different way; it underlines the surprise because of the contrast of Jesus’ teaching with those of the scribes. Jesus teaches as someone who has authority (Mk 1, 22). He has in himself the presence of the Kingdom of God. Faith experience is at last at the reach of your hand, you feel it.

5.      They came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get him 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. The paralytic (whatever kind of paralysis he had) finds himself in a helpless situation. But he heard about Jesus and his signs. And he also counts on the help of several believers who were with him, supporting his weight, and leading him to that house, where a numerous group of disciples were listening to the Word. It is the function of the stretcher-bearers.

6.      Since Abraham began his journey following the call of God (Gn 12, 1-5) an immense adventure began on which the main problem is to acknowledge God´s ways and to follow them. When this is forgotten, prophet’s word denounces and questions: How long will you follow two ways at the same time? If Yahweh is God, follow him (1 R 18, 21). Jesus calls us to follow him (Mt 4, 19); he is the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14, 6).

7. What do the stretcher-bearers do? They do not limit themselves to pray.  They accompany the paralytic, support his weight, and take him to that home where a group of disciples listen to the Word; they overcome the difficulties they find on their way, they pass over everyone and everything, they get him through the roof, they place him in the middle.

8.  The paralytic, on his part, has an initial conversion: he had heard talk about the signs that Jesus does, he agrees to be carried by stretcher-bearers, he enters into the group of disciples that listen to the Word, he passes from what is individual to what it is community, he starts to listen. He cannot make a step in the Gospel’s way, but he has an initial conversion and, besides, a group of believers who accompany him.

9. Vatican Council II values initial conversion this way: This conversion has to be considered really as initial, but it is sufficient so that man can perceive that, freed of sin, he is introduced into the mystery of the love of God, who calls him to start a personal communication with Him in Christ. Since then, for the action of God’s grace, the newly converted starts a spiritual journey… he passes from the old man to the new, perfect in Christ. This transition brings a progressive change of feelings and customs that have to become manifest in their social consequences and to develop gradually during the catechism teaching. The converted that trust in the Lord, object of contradiction, will feel frequently ruptures and separations but also joys that God gives without any measure (AG 13).

10. When Jesus saw their faith, with this guarantee, he announces to the paralytic the forgiveness, the amnesty, the justification: Your sins are forgiven. To the initial conversion of the paralytic, Jesus answers with total forgiveness, with the good news of forgiveness from God. It is like saying to him: God has nothing against you. God loves you. God told it to Nicodemus: Whoever believes in him will not be condemned (Jn 3, 18). It is to say, he is already favorably judged by God. It is an essential part of the Gospel good news.

11.  In Jesus’ evangelization another constant appears: scribes and Pharisees opposition, questioning Jesus authority. It is the conflict dimension that will culminate in the cross.  In effect, Pharisee reaction is not long in coming. Jesus sensed it already at the bottom of their hearts: Why does he speak like this? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins? What scandalize the Pharisee is not only the strategy of the process that Jesus applies when evaluating the initial conversion of the paralytic and the function of those who accompany him. It is not only the gratuitous disproportion proper of the Gospel that an initial conversion is followed by total forgiveness. It is the fact of forgiveness in the name of God. According to them Jesus is not proclaiming the Word of God; on the contrary: he is blaspheming.

12.  But now you shall know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he said to the paralytic: Rise, take up your mat and go home. The sign that Jesus is neither healing arbitrarily nor usurping God’s place is this: the paralytic begins to walk. One of the expected signs: will the lame leap like a stag (Is 35, 6). If the paralytic begins to walk, then it is God himself who acts, cures and forgives in Jesus’ evangelization. The sign is perceived and celebrated by everybody. They are witnesses: They were all astounded and glorified God, saying: We have never seen anything like this.

* For personal and group discernment: How do I situate myself before Jesus? 

-         Outside the house

-         Inside, listening to the Word

-         As a paralytic

-         As a stretcher-bearer

-         As having been forgiven by God

-      Cured, stepping up, walking

-      In the opposition with scribes and Pharisees

-      Glorifying God.