NOTES for Mar 2:1-12
1 And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. |
2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. |
3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. |
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. |
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. |
6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, |
7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? |
8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? |
9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? |
10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) |
11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. |
12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. |
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People often ask: may we pray for the unbaptized, for those who died by suicide? After all, even for the Church, the question of funeral rites for such people is one of the most difficult. But let us think about today's reading. We know that for a miracle to happen, faith is needed. But what should be done if there is no faith? If it was absent to such a degree that a person decided to take his own life? Is this truly inevitable destruction?
And this is what the Gospel tells us today: faith alone is not enough; love is also needed. Where one's own faith is absent, the love of one's neighbors saves. The faith of some and their love for others work a miracle even over those who have no faith, who show no signs of spiritual life, as if they were paralyzed or already dead. Love becomes a conductor of faith from one person to another, and that person receives a saving charge.
We must always remember this and pray without ceasing for those who, for one reason or another, of which there is a great multitude in the world, cannot pray for themselves.
Readings for 16 January 2026
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