Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

PATER NOSTER, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

Today’s Gospel is the healing of the paralytic who was lowered through the roof by his friends.  We all know the story, but have you ever really stopped and thought about it?  Have you thought about the persistence and masculine initiative on display here?  Can you imagine strapping your paralyzed friend to a board, CUTTING A HOLE IN SOMEONE’S ROOF, and then lowering your buddy down through the hole you just cut with ropes, because, by golly, we have GOT to get him into the presence of Jesus?  Oh, to have been a fly on that wall.

“Um, Lord, there is someone on the roof.”
“It’s cool.  Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay, they seem to be cutting a hole now.”
“It’s all good.  Cool out.  Everything’s fine.”
“There is now a six by three foot hole in the roof.”
“So there is.”
(awkward silence as paralyzed dude strapped to a board slowly descends into the room)
“Hi.  Sorry about this, but there was no other way in, and I’m paralyzed, and you’re God, and I REALLY need you to help me.  Please.”

That’s faith.  Not just by the paralyzed dude, but also by his boys that executed this bold and excellent plan.  The verse in Mark 2 says, “And when Jesus had seen their faith…”  THEIR faith.  Plural.  Not just the paralyzed dude, but also the paralyzed dude’s BOYS.  It’s good to have boys.  Boys with saws and plenty of rope.  And persistent faith.  Our Lord likes that.

“Your sins are forgiven.  That’s the important part, but just to show you that I AM God and I do indeed have the power to forgive sins, get up, take your bed, and go on home now.”
(paralyzed dude gets up, whereupon his boys on the roof freak out)
“YAY!!!!!”

Yay, indeed.  Well done, Boys.