yeS
Moses, Noah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the prophets, Mary, Joseph, Peter, Paul and Jesus. What do these people have in common? They all said “yes” to the Lord. God was doing a new thing in their lives and they all said “yes.” For some it took a while to come to that point but, in the end, they were all obedient to the call of the Lord in their lives.
Yes! I like that word. It means affirmation, surrender, permission, consent, agreement and obedience. In some circumstances, this word has negative connotations – “yes” to sin, immorality, war, corruption and violence.
At baptism, we said “yes.” As infants, we didn't have the faculty of speech, but our parents or whoever stood on our behalf stated an affirmation to the Lord. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and in Him is the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus said “yes” to the Father and was obedient unto His death on the Cross. At every moment, we are called to renew that “yes.” The Spirit has been given as installment, as the guarantee, the “yes” of the Father who has welcomed us and accepted us into His Kingdom.
In today's Gospel, the “yes” of Jesus is expressed through the healing and the pronouncement of forgiveness. The friends of the paralytic express their “yes” by bringing their friend to Jesus even if it meant damaging the roof. The paralytic himself expresses this “yes” by submitting to the command of Jesus by taking up his mat and walking in front of the crowd.
However, there are some who say ‘no.' The Pharisees denounce the act of Jesus as not from God, they reject His forgiveness, and they refuse to believe in the power of God. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL
Reflection Question:
What do you say — yes or no? Whatever your answer might be, there will always be repercussions — good and bad. But the decision is always yours.
Yes, Lord. Amen.
St. Peter, Apostle, pray for us.