During a visit to the Princess Elizabeth Centre some time ago, we were edified by the care and support given by the children to each other, especially to those who were in greatest need.

It seemed that the official policy of the institution was that of empowering each child to use his/her gifts, in the service of others.

Today, Jesus returns to Capernaum , the scene of some of his earlier miracles. Word went around that he was back and more people than ever were seeking him out. On this occasion, the crowd is so large that normal access to Jesus is impossible.

But the friends of the paralytic are undaunted. The powerful witness of the leper and others who had been healed, provided the impetus for them to get to Jesus regardless of the physical obstacles, and they succeeded!

Personal testimony to one's experience of the loving kindness of God has been described as “one beggar telling another where to find bread.” As baptised Catholic Christians, we have been mandated to share our experience of the Good News with others.

What words are we passing around? When was the last time we shared with another what God has done for us? How has our community benefited from our witness? Faith may be personal but its enduring effects are essentially communal.

We strongly believe that the ultimate test of the maturity of a society is the way it treats its most vulnerable members. In this regard, we must acknowledge and celebrate the excellent work of our religious congregations and our many lay organisations, even as we recognise that there are still many “ paralytics ” who are in need of help in our homes, our places of work, our schools, on the streets and in our churches.

They stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was . Today, business gurus advocate “thinking outside the box.” In the same way, the Church must remain open to new possibilities, new strategies, and innovative approaches to its varied ministries.

The recent initiatives of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice with respect to restorative justice and post-prison support are a good example of this.

Another example is the work of the Touch of Christ community which has pioneered the integration of the hearing impaired into full participation in parish life.

Many of us are familiar with the poem Footprints , which depicts God's merciful providence to us especially in times of trouble. We can all testify to the myriad ways in which God has carried us when we were on our “ stretchers ”, in circumstances that stretched us and demanded of us resources we did not possess, but which had been supplied as we learned to rely completely on God.

Many of us can give witness to being carried through challenging situations by God as he created holes in the roof to supply our needs – friends to lean on, financial support, academic opportunities, protection from danger, spiritual resources when we felt tested beyond our limit.

Seeing their faith ... It is instructive that Mark makes no mention of the paralytic's faith. The man himself makes no urgent request for help, but his friends have so much confidence in Jesus that they find a way to get through to him.

Through God's graciousness, the paralytic receives both physical and spiritual healing. In the Mass we pray: look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church – a reminder that we do not go to God alone, and that the faith of the community is of vital importance. The community will carry us even when our own faith is failing.

Merciful God, we give thanks for the many times you carried us when we were sick, afraid, confused or tempted. Thank you for the people you sent our way to minister to us and to give us hope – our friends, our parents, our teachers, and even strangers.

We thank you Lord, for those difficult times because it was then that we learnt how to trust in your providence and to depend on your mercy.

As we struggle with the many challenges that face our country today, give us eyes to see new ways of doing things, and give us the courage to persevere in being your faithful witnesses.

Continue to bless and direct your Church here in Trinidad and Tobago so that we may be a sign of your healing presence in our land. Amen.

Kenneth and Bernadette Phillips are catechists in St Joseph 's parish, Scarborough.