What has us Paralyzed?

Monday of the Second Week of Advent

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he sat teaching, that there were also Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, that were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was to heal them. And behold, men brought in a bed a man, who had the palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the multitude, they went up upon the roof, and let him down through the tiles with his bed into the midst before Jesus. Whose faith when he saw, he said: Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and Pharisees began to think, saying: Who is this who speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? And when Jesus knew their thoughts, answering, he said to them: What is it you think in your hearts? Which is easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say to thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house. And immediately rising up before them, he took up the bed on which he lay; and he went away to his own house, glorifying God. And all were astonished; and they glorified God. And they were filled with fear, saying: We have seen wonderful things to day.
Luke 5:17-26 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father are we also as paralyzed as this man in the Gospel. I know I am at times, when sin paralyzes my soul from moving closer to you. And the same can be said of fear of the unknown. Yet your forgiveness is greater than fear and strengthening to our souls, where we are able to get up and walk free from the fear that kept us paralyzed. Your love brought healing, your forgiveness allowed me to get up and walk. How many in this world are afraid to walk in the light of your Son because of their fear of those who sin and those who are sinless for fear of their judgement. After all when we live in sin we have no conscience, we cause hurt, fear, anguish and we paralyze the soul to live. Jesus came to forgive and to heal what paralyzes the soul as he speaks of in this Gospel. Which is easier to say, you are forgiven or get up and walk. What has us paralyzed from doing God's will.