One of the passages within Luke 5 that especially touched me today was the cure of the paralyzed man and the perseverance of the man and his friends who brought him to Jesus for healing.  The word of God says, “now some men appeared, bringing on a bed a paralyzed man whom they were trying to bring in and lay down in front of Jesus.  But as they could find no way of getting the man through the crowd, they went up onto the top of the house and lowered him and his stretcher down through the tiles into the middle of the gathering, in front of Jesus” (Luke 5:18-19).  

Sometimes when we read the Bible, we can find ourselves reading quickly as if it was any other book.  But every word from the Lord is precious.  “More desirable than gold, even than the finest gold, his words are sweeter than honey that drips from the comb” (Psalm 19:10).  

As St. Paul wrote in his second letter to Timothy, “all scripture is inspired by God and useful for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be upright.  This is how someone who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Therefore, it is important to read slowly and, like Mother Mary, ponder and treasure all the word of God in our hearts (Luke 2:19).  

When we read slowly, the perseverance of the paralyzed man and his friends is quite moving.  They wanted to reach Jesus so much that they all worked together and carried the man on his stretcher to the house where Jesus was healing, climbed to the top of the house with him on the stretcher, and carefully lowered him down through the roof into the home.  

When they arrived at the home and were unable to reach Jesus through the crowd, they did not give up, turn around and go home, or simply wait outside to see if Jesus might pass by later in the day.  They persevered in looking for the “door” the Lord had opened for them to come to Jesus.  Although it was not necessarily an easy way, it was the way to life (John 14:6).

We too are called to persevere in our spiritual journeys, working out our salvation in fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), encouraging one another, and standing firm and united in spirit, battling as a team with a single aim for the faith of the Gospel (Philippians 1:27).  The salvation of our souls is more important than all else.  As Mark 8:36 says, “what gain, then, is it for anyone to win the whole world and forfeit his life?”  

Let us encourage one another to keep going always.  “In everything we prove ourselves authentic servants of God by resolute perseverance in times of hardships, difficulties and distress” (2 Corinthians 6:4).  May we never tire of reminding ourselves and each other of the truth (Philippians 3:1).  Our goal is to be the rich soil in Luke 8:15, the “people with a noble and generous heart who have heard the word and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.”  

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, “keep firm and immovable, always abounding in energy for the Lord’s work, being sure that in the Lord none of your labors is wasted” (1 Corinthians 15:58)!