Second Sunday of the Great Fast ; The Holy Venerable-Martyr Eudocia.
Day 14 of the Great Fast.
Hebrews 1:10-2:3; Mark 2:1-12.
Read Mark 2:1-12
One of the blessings of this season of fasting is the clarity we can gain about disparities between our profession of faith and our practice of it. When the pressure of deprivation and constraint is upon us, we and those around us can notice the points at which we “talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.” Such moments are a gift, not to be hidden from in shame but to be humbly received in repentance.
Jesus was preaching at his home in Capernaum. He told a paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven.” Some hearing that asked themselves, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus responded by revealing that he is the Son of man of Daniel 7:13-14, exercising the authority of God. Jesus would not be able to forgive sins thus if he sinned himself. That was the point. The scribes didn’t know how correct their question was, they were just answering it incorrectly.
This situation in which Jesus did not sin had its share of pressure. Word got around that he was at home so people mobbed his place – people couldn’t even get in the door! – so people ripped off his roof to get in. And some who had crashed his place had hostile intent. He addressed himself to the hearts of his enemies and revealed himself to everyone present, all of whom glorified God.
When pressure reveals our sin, “we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
(Hebrews 4:15-16)