Fr. Roger J. Landry

Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem

Mass inside the Tomb of Christ

December 1, 2021

 

To listen to an audio recording of today’s brief homily, please click below: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/12.1.21_Homily_Tomb_1.mp3

 

The points attempted in this homily were:

* The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event of all time.

* Jesus, however, doesn’t want it to remain an event. He tells us, like he told St. Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Just as it is awesome for us to have the privilege to return the Risen body of the Lord in the Holy Eucharist back into the empty tomb, so the same Lord Jesus wants to enter into us. He wants his Risen Life so to pervade us that we, like St. Paul, might say, “It is no longer I who live, but [the Risen] Christ who lives in me.”

* And just as Mary Magdalene couldn’t keep her encounter with Jesus to herself, neither should it be capable of us not to speak to others of this incredible reality, that we have not only seen the Lord but received him.

 

The Gospel for this Mass was: 

Mt 28:1-10: After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” 

Fr. Roger J. Landry

Lectio Divina on St. John the Baptist and Baptism

The Jordan River

Leonine Forum Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

November 30, 2021

 

To listen to the lectio divina, please click below: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/11.30.21_Baptism_Whole_1.mp3

 

The Gospel passages on which this lectio divina was based were:

Mt 3:1-17: In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea [and] saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: “A voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Jn 1:19-39: And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?” he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am “the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water to...

Fr. Roger J. Landry

Lectio Divina on John 21

The Church of the Primacy of Peter, Tabgha

Leonine Forum Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

November 30, 2021

 

To listen to the lectio divina, please click below: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/11.30.21_Peter_Primacy_1.mp3

 

The Gospel passage on which this Lectio Divina was based was: 

Jn 21:1-25: After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.” Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? [What concern is it of yours?]” It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did,

Fr. Roger J. Landry

Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish

Dalmanutha, Galilee

Leonine Forum Pilgrimage

Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle and Martyr

November 30, 2021

Is 55:1-3, Ps 145, Jn 6:1-15

 

To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below: 

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The following points were attempted in the homily: 

* We are at the site where, according to tradition, a vast crowd made a pilgrimage to hear Jesus teach. They were longing for him, hungering for the truth, but Jesus had compassion on them, because the spirit was willing but the flesh was infamished. So he worked a miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish to feed them. This is a sign of his mercy, but it is also a sign he repeated because he wanted to make a point, that he cares not just for our souls, but for our bodies, because he loves us body and soul. At Capernaum we pondered how he wanted us to work above all for the food that endures to eternal life, but that does not mean that he doesn’t care about the material food we need to survive. He worked the miracles of the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish for 5,000 and of seven loaves and a few fish for the 4,000 in order to show that he wants us to relate to him in his desire to nourish, to depend on him. After the second miracle, in a boat with the apostles after the Scribes and the Pharisees asked him to perform a sign despite so many, he told the apostles to beware of the leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees. When the apostles showed incomprehension, he brought up both of the miracles of the multiplication to show them, unlike the Scribes and the Pharisees, to trust in God to provide. So the first thing we learn about this miracle is about God’s mercy and generosity and the trust we should place in him.

* The second is about the young boy, whose raw material Jesus used to begin this miracle. Jesus, through whom all things were made, could have worked this miracle ex nihilo, but he chose to begin with the meager offerings that could barely nourish a growing kid. It shows how he wants to incorporate our efforts even if they’re meager. When Cardinal Van Thuan was in solitary confinement, he wondered what he could do for the Lord, and the Lord inspired him to remember that he could offer his “five loaves and two fish,” so little it seems in comparison to the need, but placed in the Lord’s hands it could do so much. We all have our five loaves and two fish; some days it might seem just like a few crumbs and fish bones. But we’re called to give them to the Lord and let him do the rest. A mustard seed placed in his hands can become a huge shrub giving shelter to the birds of the air.

* The third thing I want to mention is how the young boy was brought to Jesus. St. John tells us: “Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to [Jesus], “There is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish.” Andrew brought the boy to Jesus and Jesus did the rest. Today is the feast of St. Andrew. He is called the “protoclete” or first called because he was with St. John the Baptist when St. John pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God and then left, with another (almost certainly St. John the Evangelist) to follow him and spend the Sabbath with him. After that, he immediately went to tell his brother Simon that he had found the Messiah and brought Simon to him, as Jesus said he would be called Cephas. St. Andrew likewise brought the Greeks who were searching for Jesus to the Lord Jesus. Though he was the first called, he was also the first and foremost to call others and bring them to Jesus. He was the proto-apostolos as well. Tradition is that this fishing spot,

Fr. Roger J. Landry

Lectio Divina on the Wedding Feast of Cana

Franciscan Church of the Wedding of Cana, Galilee

Leonine Forum Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

November 29, 2021

 

To listen to the lectio divina, please click below: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/11.29.21_Cana_1.mp3

 

The Gospel passage on which this Lectio Divina was based was: 

Jn 2:1-11: On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

Fr. Roger J. Landry

Lectio Divina about Jesus on the Annunciations to Mary and Joseph in Nazareth

Basilica of the Annunciation and Church of St. Joseph

Leonine Forum Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

November 29, 2021

 

To listen to the lectio divina, please click below: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/11.29.21_Nazareth_1.mp3

 

The Gospel passages on which the Lectio Divina was based were: 

Lk 1:36-48: In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Mt 1:18-25: Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

Fr. Roger J. Landry

Basilica of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor

Leonine Forum Pilgrimage

November 29, 2021

Daniel 7:9-10.13-14, Ps 97, 2 Pet 1:16-19, Mt 17:1-9

 

To listen to an audio recording of today’s readings, please click below: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/11.29.21_Homily_1.mp3

 

This was the outline of the homily: 

* Today we come on pilgrimage, like Saint Peter, James and John, to Mount Tabor with Jesus. Here we learn five lessons.

* On the pilgrimage of life we need to exert ourselves, like they did, in hiking this mountain.

* On the pilgrimage of life, Jesus wants to lead us apart to pray, and more specifically, to enter into his prayer: his communion with the Father, his discussion with Elijah and Moses and other figures who in God are very much alive, like we are able to do through Sacred Scripture. We enter into the “cloud” or mystery of prayer trying to focus “only on Jesus.” In prayer God the Father asks the question Jesus made in Caesarea Philippi, saying that Jesus is his beloved son.”

* On the pilgrimage of life, we need to listen to Jesus, like God the Father called the apostles to do, despite the fact that they had been listening to Jesus for more than two years. God the Father knew they were selectively listening to Jesus and particularly tone deaf to his passion, death and resurrection.

* On the pilgrimage of life, we need to have this Tabor moments but then Jesus wants to lead us down the hill, into the world, and up Mount Calvary. We’re tempted to build Jesus booths, to keep the good times rolling, but Jesus has other plans.

* On the pilgrimage of life, Jesus intends to build a booth for us, within us, which is what happens every Mass.

 

The readings for today’s Mass were: 

Reading 1

DN 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:

Thrones were set up

and the Ancient One took his throne.

His clothing was bright as snow,

and the hair on his head as white as wool;

his throne was flames of fire,

with wheels of burning fire.

A surging stream of fire

flowed out from where he sat;

Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,

and myriads upon myriads attended him.

The court was convened and the books were opened.

As the visions during the night continued, I saw:

One like a Son of man coming,

on the clouds of heaven;

When he reached the Ancient One

and was presented before him,

The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;

all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

that shall not be taken away,

his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 97:1-2, 5-6, 9

R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;

let the many islands be glad.

Clouds and darkness are round about him,

justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,

before the LORD of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his justice,

and all peoples see his glory.

R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,

exalted far above all gods.

R. The Lord is king,

Fr. Roger J. Landry

Lectio Divina about Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount

Mount of the Beatitudes

Leonine Forum Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

November 28, 2021

 

To listen to the lectio divina, please click below: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/11.28.21_Sermon_on_the_Mount_1.mp3

 

The text on which the lectio divina was based was: 

Matt 5:1-7:29

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

Fr. Roger J. Landry

Lectio Divina about Jesus in Caesarea Philippi

Leonine Forum Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

November 28, 2021

 

To listen to the lectio divina, please click below: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/11.28.21_Caesarea_Philippi_1.mp3

 

The passage on which this Lectio Divina was based was: 

Mt 16:13-27: When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. 

Fr. Roger J. Landry

Lectio Divina about Jesus in Capernaum

Leonine Forum Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

November 28, 2021

 

To listen to the lectio divina, please click below: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/11.28.21_Capernaum_1.mp3

 

The readings on which the Lectio Divina was based were: 

Mk 1:21-3:6: As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him. Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee. On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” … When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” — he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.” Once again he went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.