This is the third piece of this story. Jesus calls the community of faith to actively intercede for others. Im sure the paralytic was glad these four friends didnt see things that way. For us to be alive, and for our parish to be alive, we need the same vision. This is why we baptize babies who cannot speak for themselves, and why we pray those who are ill who have not asked for our prayers.
Faith opens doors for Christs healing to come in.
We intercede for our communities, where we see paralysis which punishes honesty and rewards deception, communities where it is a struggle to guarantee that the least among us have the same rights as everyone else, like access to quality child care, health care, and equal protection under the law. These intercessions must be in the form of prayer AND action. Mark tells us it was Hard work carrying a paralytic, and then lowering him through the roof. Which is the fourth and final piece of the story. These four men use their ingenuity, overcome a huge obstacle, and find a away to bring this man to Jesus.