To those who listen to his Word, Jesus presents himself as a doctor of the body, but mainly as a liberator of human beings as a whole, saving them from sin.

First Reading: 1 Samuel 8,4-7.10-22 To those who listen to his Word, Jesus presents himself as a doctor of the body, but mainly as a liberator of human beings as a whole, saving them from sin. Reading from the first book of Samuel – In those days, 4all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to see Samuel in Ramah 5and said to him: “Look, you are old and your children do not follow your ways. Therefore, establish a king over us, so that he may exercise justice among us, as is done among all peoples.” 6Samuel was unhappy when they said to him, “Give us a king, so he can judge us.” And he called upon the Lord. 7The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to everything the people tell you. For it is not you they reject, but me, that I should no longer reign over them.” 10Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who had asked him for a king, 11and said, “These will be the rights of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and put them in charge of his chariots and his horses and will make them run in front of your car. 12He will make them leaders of a thousand and fifty men and will employ them in his fields and in his harvests, in the manufacture of his weapons and his chariots. 13He will make your daughters his perfumers, cooks and bakers. 14He will take your best fields, vineyards and olive groves and give them to his employees. 15He will collect tithes from your crops and vineyards and give them to his eunuchs and his servants. 16He will also take your male and female servants, your best oxen and donkeys, and make them work for him. 17He will demand a tithe of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. 18In that day you will cry out to the Lord because of the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not hear you.” 19But the people would not listen to Samuel's reasons and said, “It doesn't matter! We want a king, 20because we want to be like all the other nations. Our king will administer justice, march before us and fight for us in all wars.” 21Samuel heard all the words of the people and repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22But the Lord said to him, “Do them well and give them a king.” - Word of the Lord. Responsorial Psalm: 88(89) O Lord, I will sing your love forever. 1. How happy are those people who know joy; / will follow the path, always in the light of your face! / He will exult with joy in your name day by day / and, with great enthusiasm, he will exalt your justice. – R. 2. For you, O Lord God, are his strength and his glory, / it is for your protection that you exalt our head. / The Lord is our shield, he is our protection, / he reigns over us, he is the saint of Israel! – R. Gospel: Mark 2,1-12 Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. A great prophet emerged among us / and God visited his people, hallelujah (Luke 7:16). – R. Proclamation of the holy Gospel according to Mark – 1A few days later, Jesus entered Capernaum again. Word soon spread that he was home. 2And so many people gathered there that there was no room even in front of the door. And Jesus announced the Word to them. 3Then they brought him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4But unable to reach Jesus because of the crowd, they opened the roof right above the place where he was. Through this opening they lowered the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5When he saw the faith of these men, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6Now some teachers of the Law who were sitting there were thinking in their hearts: 7“How can this man speak like that? He is blaspheming: no one can forgive sins except God.” 8Jesus immediately realized what they were thinking in their hearts and said, “Why do you think this way in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your bed and walk’? 10Well, so that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralytic – 11“I command you: get up, pick up your bed and go home!” 12The paralytic then got up and, carrying his bed, went out in front of everyone. And they were all amazed and praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.” – Word of salvation. Reflection: Numerous people gather around Jesus, excited by his preaching. Something unprecedented happens: four men carry a paralyzed man and, through the cover, place him in front of Jesus. Their gesture is already an eloquent request for healing. Then Jesus takes the initiative and forgives her sins. Now, forgiving sins is God’s exclusive privilege. From the point of view of the teachers of the Law, Jesus is blaspheming. The penalty for those who blasphemed was stoning. But Jesus also has the gift of knowing what they are thinking about inside. Forgiving sins is an invisible reality.