Daily Reflections

December 5, 2011
The Paralysis of Inaction

Whenever we hear this story of the paralytic man cured by Jesus, we usually focus our attention on the paralytic or on Jesus. Today, however, I would like to draw attention to the friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus.
It was a busy day and, as usual, people crowded Jesus to listen to His teachings and to bring their sick to Him. It was already impossible to even get within hearing distance of Jesus. But these friends of the paralytic were enterprising. They had a plan and failure was not part of it. They went up the roof, calculated where Jesus was, ripped off the tiles of the roof, and slipped down the paralytic before Jesus.
If they were not going to have Jesus’ attention, they were going to get it, and get it they did. Luke mentions that Jesus saw their faith (see verse 20). They got Jesus’ attention, and the healing and the forgiveness as well.
We can learn from the friends of the paralytic. First, they had a plan. They intended to do something, and they carried it out. They did not simply wait for things to happen — they made things happen. I remember here an insightful adage: If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.
How many of us go through life, or even a day, without a plan? For example, I hear people tell me regretfully, “Father, I thought it was going to be a great marriage.” When I ask them whether they had a plan for a successful marriage, I often get a surprised look or a regretful sigh. Marital bliss is not something that just happens; it is something you make happen. The same principle applies to every human endeavor.
Secondly, the paralytic’s friends did not only have a plan; they acted on it. Most of our plans remain as they are — plans. Ever heard of the saying, “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence”? People who act on their plan believe something else: “The grass is greener where you water it.” Is the grass greener on the other side of your fence? Maybe because you keep dreaming and pining to jump on the other side, forgetting to water your side of the fence.Fr. Joel O. Jason

Reflection Question:
What area of your life is affected by the paralysis of a lack of plan? What area of your life is affected by the paralysis of an unworked-out plan?

Lord Jesus, heal me from all my paralysis, both real and perceived. Help me plan my work and work out my plans. Amen.

St. Nicolas Tavigli, pray for us.