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Today’s Gospel
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Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

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Gospel text (Mt 9:1-8): After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher... After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

Illustration: Pau Morales

Today the Master appreciates this gesture of solidarity between friends and the confidence they place on Him. But the Lord surprises them: "Friend, your sins are forgiven." And the paralysis? That is the question! The first and worst paralysis is sin. This is a very dangerous paralysis: it destroys us almost without realizing it.

-Jesus begins with the first. But since God is the Lord over the spirit and the Lord over matter, He can say: "But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. So He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

January 25th
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

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