Thank you for the Email COMMENT.
Your reading from Sacra Pagina and Knox Translation.
Your thougts resonant as I came to the account of the Paralytic.
And "Its interpretation section concludes with a glorious reflection" comes wonderfully on this Eve of Ash Wednesday.
Greetings for Lent.
Donald.
PS. Shrove Tuesday, I had the task to burn the last year's Palms for the Ashes of Wednesday, powefully wrapping up the symbols the Paschal Mystery.
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: William . . .
To: Fr Donald
Sent: Monday, 20 February 2012, 14:13
Subject: Re: [Blog] The Paralytic at Capernaum
Dear Father Donald,
Your post on the Gospel story of The Paralytic at Capernaum draws me in desire to enter even more deeply into its meaning.
The passage has a quite involved analysis in the fine "Sacra Pagina" NT commentary, even to the scholarly interpretation of the subtle Greek word ['forgive']. It examines the meaning of the Greek very finely as to whether Jesus actually forgives the sins or whether he acts as an agent of divine forgiveness, confirming the former and (with delight!) acknowledging the reaction of the scribes in their understanding! This is again wonderfully confirmed in the "Gospel Story" (Knox-Cox), which says that this is the most explicit claim to divine power that our Lord makes during his Galilean ministry: "He is not claiming delegated power from God, he claims authority in his own right as the Messias ('Son of Man') during his earthly life - this can only mean that he is God incarnate".
Sacra Pagina also focuses on the words 'Son of Man' which "stress his power on earth and prepare the readers for the proper understanding of the authority of Jesus - a paradoxical authority given to a 'Son of Man' that is not based on dominating power but achieved through suffering, and is to be at the service of others".
Its interpretation section concludes with a glorious reflection: "This short narrative provides a rich field for contemporary actualization of fundamental Christian themes. In it faith is not simply intellectual conviction but boundary-breaking activity; the faith of the litter bearers who disrupt the assembly is praised. The text also encourages reflection on the relation between sin and "paralysis." Sin can exercise such force that people are unable to move or to change. They may, like the paralyzed man, be dependent on others on the journey to health and restoration. The word of Jesus is restorative and forgiving. And following as a disciple of Jesus, the one who acts as the agent of God's forgiveness and liberation may be not only misunderstood but also may evoke great opposition; and those touched by God's forgiveness may become public witnesses to others so that they in turn can glorify God".
It is one of those passages in the Gospel that can quite fill one's mind, both at rest and along the path of life...
Thank you for challenging my attention on your Blog!
. . . in Our Lord,
William
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