“Which is easier, to say…“Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’?” Christ’s question is meant to be thought-provoking, but not only for the scribes. The paralytic and his friends are also listening, and so are we.
How would the paralytic have received this question? He has just been carried here; maybe he convinced his friends to do it, or maybe they had to convince him. We aren’t told how long this man has been paralyzed, or whether he still hopes to be healed. We do know that his companions are so determined to bring him to Jesus that they dig their way through a stone roof—no small feat.
Now, this man is face to face at last with the Messiah, a public figure renowned for the miracles He has performed across the region. Yet what are Christ’s first words to him? He does not say, “Your determination is admirable; be cured of your affliction.” No. Instead, He “sees their faith,” and He speaks these words: “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
The man’s paralysis is apparent, yet Christ sees him in his entirety—not only the sufferings of his body, but also the struggles of his soul—and He addresses his spiritual needs first. Even if this man never walks again during his earthly life, the state of his soul will determine where he spends eternal life. Only after the man’s sins are absolved does Christ heal his body as well. In doing so, He reveals to us that the spiritual order must first be restored before the material order can be healed.
How often do we find ourselves paralyzed by circumstances? “If only I wasn’t so busy or if I had gotten that promotion or if I’d only been able to take that opportunity, then things would be different.” We become caught up in the whirlwind of “what ifs.” We bring our problems to Christ, hoping for a solution. Maybe, like the friends of the paralytic, we have also dug through hard barriers to find Him. Perhaps prayers become impatient requests for change, and no change is interpreted as “no results.”
But Christ does not prioritize results. He prioritizes a person: you. He sees our need for His grace, which is given first and foremost as spiritual aid. Christ will not restore the order of our lives without first restoring the order within our hearts. His question to the scribes is rhetorical. He is telling us that spiritual healing is always deeper and more difficult than physical restoration, which is why He heals our souls first. We too are the paralyzed man. We must allow Christ’s grace to restore us spiritually first before we can receive the grace that resolves our circumstances according to His will. When circumstances are paralyzing, frustrating, and helpless, do not pray first for a solution. Instead, pray first for the restoration of your soul, for healing, forgiveness, and grace. Then Christ will resolve the rest.
“¿Qué es más fácil, decirle al paralítico: ‘Tus pecados te son perdonados’ o decirle: ‘Levántate, recoge tu camilla y vete a tu casa’?” La pregunta de Cristo los hace reflexionar, pero no sólo a los escribas. El paralítico y sus amigos también están escuchando, y nosotros también.
¿Cómo habría recibido el paralítico esta pregunta? Lo acaban de traer aquí; tal vez convenció a sus amigos para que lo hicieran, o tal vez ellos tuvieron que convencerlo a él. No se nos dice cuánto tiempo lleva este hombre paralizado ni si todavía espera ser curado. Sabemos que sus compañeros están tan decididos a llevarlo a Jesús que cavaron a través de un techo de piedra, lo que no es poca cosa.
Ahora, este hombre se encuentra por fin cara a cara con el Mesías, una figura pública reconocida por los milagros que ha realizado en toda la región. Sin embargo, ¿cuáles son las primeras palabras que Cristo le dirigió? No dice: “Tu determinación es admirable; queda curado de tu aflicción”. No. En cambio, Él ve su fe y pronuncia estas palabras: “Hijo, tus pecados te quedan perdonados”.
La parálisis del hombre es evidente, pero Cristo lo ve en su totalidad (no sólo los sufrimientos de su cuerpo, sino también las batallas de su alma) y atiende primero a sus necesidades espirituales. Aunque este hombre nunca vuelva a caminar durante su vida terrenal, el estado de su alma determinará dónde pasará la vida eterna. Sólo después de que los pecados del hombre son absueltos, Cristo sana también su cuerpo. Al hacerlo, nos revela que primero debe restaurarse el orden espiritual antes de poder sanar el orden material.
¿Con qué frecuencia nos encontramos paralizados por las circunstancias? “Si tan solo no estuviera tan ocupado o si hubiera conseguido esa subida o si hubiera podido aprovechar esa oportunidad, entonces las cosas serían diferentes”. Quedamos atrapados en el torbellino de “qué pasaría si”. Llevamos nuestros problemas a Cristo, esperando una solución. Quizás, como los amigos del paralítico, también hemos atravesado duras barreras para encontrarlo. Quizás las oraciones se conviertan en solicitudes impacientes de cambio, y ningún cambio se interpreta como “no hay resultados”.
Pero Cristo no prioriza los resultados. Prioriza a una persona: tú. Él ve nuestra necesidad de su gracia, que se nos da ante todo como ayuda espiritual. Cristo no restaurará el orden de nuestras vidas sin primero restaurar el orden dentro de nuestros corazones. Su pregunta a los escribas es retórica. Nos está diciendo que la curación espiritual es siempre más profunda y difícil que la restauración física, razón por la cual primero sana nuestras almas. Nosotros también somos paralíticos. Primero debemos permitir que la gracia de Cristo nos restaure espiritualmente antes de que podamos recibir la gracia que resuelve nuestras circunstancias de acuerdo con Su voluntad. Cuando las circunstancias son paralizantes, frustrantes e impotentes, no pides primero por una solución. En lugar de eso, pide primero por la restauración de tu alma, por la sanación, el perdón y la gracia. Cristo resolverá lo demás.
Hailing from Nashville, Catherine is a graduate of Christendom College with a lifelong passion for words. Her love of writing and her Catholic Faith continue to shape her as a freelance editor, copywriter, and (aspiring) novelist, where she pursues her passions for the love and greater glory of God.
Feature Image Credit: Ante Gudelj, unsplash.com/photos/P-JX1Agg0Ts
Kate Taliaferro is an Air Force wife and mother. She is blessed to be able to homeschool, bake bread and fold endless piles of laundry. When not planning a school day, writing a blog post or cooking pasta, Kate can be found curled up with a book or working with some kind of fiber craft. Kate blogs at 
David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in Nashville, Tennessee. He has a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University, and is the editor of the anthology 
Susan Ciancio has a BA in psychology and a BA in sociology from the University of Notre Dame, with an MA in liberal studies from Indiana University. For the past 19 years, she has worked as a professional editor and writer, editing both fiction and nonfiction books, magazine articles, blogs, educational lessons, professional materials and website content. Thirteen of those years have been in the pro-life sector. Currently Susan freelances and writes weekly for HLI, edits for American Life League, and is the executive editor of Celebrate Life Magazine. She also serves as executive editor for the Culture of Life Studies Program—an educational nonprofit program for K-12 students. You can reach her at 
Leslie Sholly is a Catholic, Southern wife and mother of five, living in her hometown, Knoxville, Tennessee. She graduated from Georgetown University with an English major and Theology minor. She blogs at 
Deacon Dan Schneider is a retired general manager of industrial distributors. He and his wife Vicki have been married for over 50 years. They are the parents of eight children and thirty grandchildren. He has a degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor University. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 2002. He has a passion for working with engaged and married couples and his main ministry has been preparing couples for marriage.
Tami Urcia grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling projects, finding fun ways to keep her little ones occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works full time, is a guest blogger on 
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