The lord be with you. A reading of the holy gospel according to Saint Mark. Jesus came back to Capernaum. That's up in the lake country on the northwestern corner of the lake, where a good bit of excavation work has been done in late years. So Jesus came back to this very important city of Capernaum after a lapse of several days.
Word got around that he was at home. At that, people began to gather in great numbers. There was no longer any room for it, even around the door. While Jesus was delivering god's word to them, some people arrived bringing a paralyzed man with them. The four who carried the man, the paralytic, were unable to bring him to Jesus because of the crowds.
Couldn't get into the house. So, they began to open up the roof over the spot where Jesus was standing. When they had made a hole, they let down the matter on which the paralytic was lying. Jesus saw their faith. He said to the paralyzed man, my son, your sins are forgiven.
Now, some of the scribes were sitting around asking themselves, why does this man talk in this way? He commits blasphemy. Who can forgive sins except God alone? Jesus was immediately aware of their reason, and their reasoning was exactly right and correct. Though they themselves kept it to themselves.
So Jesus said to them, why do you harbor these thoughts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven, or to say, stand up, pick up your mat, and walk. You may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. He then said to the paralyzed man, I command you, stand up, pick up your mat, and go home. The man stood up, picked up his mat, and went outside in the sight of everybody.
They were awestruck. They all gave praise to God saying, we have never seen anything like this. And this is the gospel of the Lord.