1st Week in Ordinary Time (C) : Friday 17th January 2025

Jesus has keen attention to affirm everyone on their level of faith. To us, we usually think of faith as a personal thing and we would not be wrong. However, faith can also be a corporate attention. The episode of a paralytic being carried by a group of friends to get Jesus’ attention did not indicate who initiated the daring intrusion because the focus is faith. Mark’s Gospel opened with the declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (Mk 1:1), to have faith in Him is necessary for entrance to the Kingdom of God.

Surely, anyone like the paralytic would seize the opportunity to be healed. He would have expressed the desire to see Jesus and receive His healing. His strong faith was clearly manifested despite his impaired physical ability. Then, the friends who must also have faith came and carried him. No hurdle deterred them from bringing the paralytic to Jesus’ attention. Incorporating faith and energy, they lowered him from the rooftop opening and skilfully placed him before Jesus. Jesus affirmed their faith. Can we still bank on the faith of our community? Indeed.

When my personal faith is not enough to bring me to Christ, it is the faith of the Church that can assist me. This is why the synodal way is never alone. We journey together as pilgrims towards the Kingdom of God by overcoming hurdles to get Jesus’ remedial attention.

Lord, bless our ability with others to make people realize they do get Your kind attention.