42. The Healing of a Paralytic. Mt. 9:2–8; Mk. 2:1–12; Lk. 5:17–26

One day it was heard that He was in the house. And immediately so many gathered that there was no longer room, not even at the door; and He spoke the word to them.

Now while He was thus teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the Law were sitting there, having come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was present to heal the sick, – there came some men bringing a paralyzed man on a bed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Jesus. But finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, and having no means to get near the Lord, they went up to the roof, opened it, and lowered him through it on the bed into the midst, in front of Jesus.

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man: Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven. And behold, some of the scribes and Pharisees who were sitting there began to discuss and ponder in their hearts: How does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone? And they said to themselves: He is blaspheming.

And at once Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them: Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise, take up your bed and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, I say to you, – He said to the paralyzed man – Rise, take up your bed and go home. And he rose at once and, taking up his bed, went out before them all, and went to his home, glorifying God, so that amazement seized them all. Fear came upon all; and they glorified God, saying, We have seen strange things today. We are full of awe, and we say: Amazing things have we seen today; never did we see the like.