Mark: Jesus Calls Sinners

1. Additional Scriptural readings suggested: Mark 4:26-32; John 5:19-24

2. A short reading:

"For when a soul is tempted, troubled and left to itself in its unrest, that is the time for it to pray and to make itself simple and obedient to God. Unless the soul be obedient, no kind of prayer makes God supple to it; for God's love does not change, but during the time that a man is in sin he is so weak, so foolish, so unloving that he can love neither God nor himself." (Lady Julian of Norwich, 14th century, Showings, 159.)

3. Text for meditation (in Italics):

¹ When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. ³ Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. ⁴ And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷ "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" ⁸ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'? ¹⁰ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he said to the paralytic ¹¹ "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home." ¹² And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" ¹³ Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them.
         ¹⁴ As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. ¹⁵ And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples -- for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" ¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

4. Reflections: The Lord overheard the question raised by the scribes of the Pharisees. Why does Jesus sit down for fellowship with people like Matthew? So Jesus compares His work with that of a physician. He has come to cure souls -- to bring a healing balm of mercy to those who seem to deserve it least. I think each of the questions raised by Jesus' critics have been good ones, including this one. The scribes have touched the heart of the matter. Why? Why? Why? -- Because God is fulfilling the covenant, that covenant dating all the way back to Abraham. The chosen people are now seeing the chosen Son. He comes as the great physician of the soul, the One who forgives sins.

We now know there were many who did not think they needed Jesus to do anything for them. I have met these people myself. In particular, there was this man whose daughter was a member of the church I served near Houston, Texas. He was in deep need, spiritually and psychologically. Addicted to alcohol, he and I talked in his front yard. In effect he told me that he did not need what Jesus brings into our lives, and suggested that he was a good man as it was, though he was a menace to that community when he would drink and drive. The Pharisees and this man had something in common, a disregard for Christ's redeeming love. But Jesus had come precisely for him but the man could not realize that he was "sick." The Pharisees did not consider themselves sick either, but shining examples of spiritual health. In truth, the scribes of the Pharisees were sinners in need of a healing touch. Their self-righteousness stopped the grace of God in its tracks!

The ministry of Jesus was -- and is -- effective only in those who realize their deep need of God. And here is the rub. Jesus' use of a traditional proverb ("The healthy have no need of a physician, but rather the sick.") put the scribes of the Pharisees, and everyone else, in the role of an outcast. This in itself would have been horrifying to these teachers of Israel. They could not see themselves as sinners, as among the lowest of the low. Unlike Paul, they could not classify themselves as "the chief of sinners." Yet it is precisely those people, who see themselves helpless without God, who become the blessed of God -- and the healed.

5. Questions raised today for personal reflection:

Why do some people think they are better than others? It is because they live with an illusion, the illusion of their own natural purity and goodness. The Gospel puts all people on the same level, whether they be famous actors or street people. The Cross of Jesus is the great leveler in society. Before God there is no difference between the righteousness of a thriving politician and a prison inmate. All of sinned, says the Apostle Paul, and stand in need of God. Jesus makes that clear in this statement of His concerning the supposedly healthy and the genuinely sick.

What happens if we turn away from Jesus? Those who turn away are not healed of their fatal disease. This is a terrible thought, that failure to look at one's self honestly could mean loss of the kingdom! Yet it is true. Some people cannot stand to think that anyone would be turned away from heaven, yet their hopes are illusory. This is not my saying; it is the teaching of Jesus, the early church, and the traditional faith of the creeds. Facing oneself squarely and turning to Jesus matters. He is not just another spiritual option; He is the Son of God who delivers those who seek God.

6. Suggestions for prayer: We certainly must pray prayers of repentance for not taking Jesus seriously enough. And we need to pray for people who are resting in the illusion of their own natural goodness. In John, chapter 3, our Lord speaks directly to this issue. We need to pray for the members of the Fidelis Class and its officers. They are your sisters and brothers.