Sunday Scripture Readings

Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

SEVENTH SUNDAY

IN ORDINARY TIME,

FEBRUARY 23

Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24-25; Psalm 41

2 Corinthians 1:18-22; Mark 2:1-12

OUR GOOD NEWS: God-with-us - what he does, how we're expected to respond. "Remember not the events of the past." Truly, remarkable! Israelites were regularly reminded to pray in gratitude for previous favors, focusing on the past. They were acutely aware of, and grateful for, God's spectacular liberation of their ancestors from Egyptian slavery centuries earlier. But now, Isaiah (first reading) prophesied a revolution in Jewish spirituality. Now, no longer were they to celebrate past favors but live in an awareness of God's future mighty works. This event would be no less than a second and even more spectacular deliverance out of foreign slavery, followed by a return to their own land. "You did not call on me ... You grew weary of me; you burdened me with your sins." God then reminded the people - and us - that his largess comes in spite of sin, even when unrepented. His extraordinary blessing is in no way deserved or earned. "It is I, I who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more." We rejoice in our God who doesn't "make us pay," doesn't "give us what we deserve." This is the good news of Calvary: the Son of God takes suffering upon himself rather than inflicts it on us. "Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you." Today's psalm fills in what is absent in our first selection, namely, a confession of sin and appeal for forgiveness. Today's Gospel describes Jesus' original reception by Jews in Capernaum. The people had gathered not to witness a miracle but to hear Jesus teaching "the word of God." His example models for us a selfless focus on God's will rather than our own personal opinions. The "home" where He taught (Jesus' own residence?) was jam-packed, with no room for even one more hearer. The paralyzed man's four friends, creative in their persistence, carried him up to the roof and proceeded to dig an opening through the dried clay. We pause to picture the resulting mayhem - dirt falling upon Jesus and His audience, choking the air and creating a major disturbance. We who are parents and teachers can only marvel at Jesus' patient acceptance, ignoring the destruction while continuing to speak. Instead of petulantly complaining at the interruption, Jesus recognized the real meaning of the bearers' effort. It testified to their faith in Him as one who would do something positive for their friend. Jesus first forgave the man's sins, a gesture more miraculous than healing and a sign of the real purpose of His coming among us. When some in the audience silently condemned the apparent blasphemy, He responded with a dramatic curing. "Stand up! ... Now pick up your bed and go home!" The crowd responded properly, "praising God" rather than the Teacher in their midst. So too we must look beyond striking events in our lives and celebrate the deeper meaning of God at work among us.