Gospel (Mt 9,1-8) - At that time, having boarded a boat, Jesus crossed over to the other shore and arrived in his city. And behold, they brought him a paralytic lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic: "Courage, son, your sins are forgiven." Then some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man blasphemes." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said: «Why do you think evil things in your heart? For which is easier: to say "Your sins are forgiven", or to say "Rise up and walk"? But, so that you know that the Son of Man has the power on earth to forgive sins: Get up - he then said to the paralytic -, take your bed and go to your house". And he arose and went to his house. The crowds, seeing this, were filled with fear and glorified God who had given such power to men.

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

Returning to Capernaum, they bring Jesus a paralytic lying on a bed and place him in the center. A center not only physical, but of attention, interest, concern for that patient before themselves. The love of those friends is in a certain way the beginning of the miracle. The evangelist writes that Jesus, seeing their faith, decides to intervene. It is a notation that recalls the power of prayer for the sick. Certainly that paralytic wanted to be healed, but here the reason for the healing is explicitly reported: the faith of those friends. The Church, every Christian community, must rediscover itself as a friend of the sick and ready to present them before the Lord. And Jesus will not fail to answer the prayer we address to him. Maybe not in the ways we think, but healing will happen. He not only heals the body, but also the heart. To the paralytic Jesus says words that no one has ever said: "Your sins are forgiven!". Jesus does not want to imply that the paralytic's illness was caused by his sins. Rather, he wants to show a much more important fact: his power also extends over sins, to erase them. Healing also comes to the heart. And here the scene, understandably, turns into a theological debate. The scribes present, upon hearing these words, think badly of Jesus, without saying it. But Jesus, who sees into hearts, unmasks them and shows how far his mercy reaches: «Get up! – he then said to the paralytic – take your bed and go to your home». The Lord performed a double miracle in that sick person: he forgave him of his sins and healed him of his paralysis. One has come among men who heals both the body and the heart.