What does the healer say

After Mark 2:1-12 

Confronted by the faith

of the men helping a friend,

men so determined they

punch a hole in the roof,

what does the healer say?

 

He sees the man known

as a paralytic descend

into the room, dangling

in the ropes, and what

he sees first, amidst all

the talk and mutterings

of the crowd inside

is the faith of the men

maneuvering the ropes.

What does the healer say?

What does the healer do?

 

Is it “You’re healed”? 

Does he touch or extend

a hand. Lifting the paralytic

up? Instead, and first, 

the healer speaks.

The healer says

the man’s sins 

are forgiven.

Because it was,

because it is

the most important.

 

Photograph by Aaron Blanco Tejedor via Unsplash. Used with permission.