Gospel text (Luke 5,17-26): One day Jesus was teaching and many Pharisees and teachers of the Law had come from every part of Galilee and Judea and even from Jerusalem. They were sitting there while the power of the Lord was at work to heal the sick. Then some men brought a paralyzed man who lay on his mat. They tried to enter the house to place him before Jesus, but they couldn't find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and, removing the tiles, they lowered him on his mat into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, «My friend, your sins are forgiven». At once the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to wonder, «This man insults God! Who can forgive sins but only God?». But Jesus knew their thoughts and asked them, «Why are you reacting like this? Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven’, or: ‘Get up and walk?’ Now you shall know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins». And Jesus said to the paralyzed man, «Get up, take your mat and go home». At once the man stood before them. He took up the mat he had been lying on and went home praising God. Amazement seized the people and they praised God. They were filled with a holy fear and said, «What wonderful things we have seen today!».
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