Saturday Evening the Healing of the Paralytic

SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC Fifth Sunday of Lent Ramsho

INTRODUCTION

DOXOLOGY

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as we begin and until we conclude.
May mercy and compassion be poured forth upon us
in this world and the next.
O Lord, our God, to you be glory for ever. Amen.

OPENING PRAYER
Lord God,
may we contemplate your marvelous mysteries
and praise your wonderful signs this Sunday evening
as we remember your mercy towards humanity represented by the paralytic.
Always strengthen our faith, our
confidence and our love for you.
We shall give glory and thanks to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.

GREETING
Peace be with the Church and her children.
PRAISE OF THE ANGELS

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace on earth and good will to all.

Praise the Lord all you nations,
glorify him all you peoples!

For steadfast is his mercy towards us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
and peace on earth and good will to all.

PSALMODY
FIRST PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O Christ,
mediator between the Father and ourselves,
you have taken our nature upon yourself
and made known to us the mystery of your
divine nature.
You pardoned the sins of the paralytic and healed
his illness;
he carried his litter and walked away glorifying God.
Forgive also our sins and engrave your teachings on
our hearts,
then we shall follow you joyfully, carry our cross
and thank you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit,
for ever. Amen.

PSALM OF THE DAY
Antiphon:
Once I said, “O LORD, have pity on me;
heal me, though I have sinned against you.”

Psalm 41
Happy is he who has regard for the lowly and the poor; in the day of misfortune the Lord will deliver him.

The Lord will keep and preserve him;
he will make him happy on the earth,
and not give him over to the will of his enemies.

The Lord will help him on his sickbed,
he will take away all his ailment when he is ill.

Once I said, “O Lord, have pity on me;
heal me, though I have sinned against you.

My enemies say the worst of me:
‘When will he die and his name perish?’

When one comes to see me, he speaks without sincerity; his heart stores up malice; when he leaves he give voice to it outside.

All my foes whisper together against me;
against me they imagine the worst:

‘A malignant disease fills his frame’;
and ‘Now that he lies ill, he will not rise again,’

Even my friend who had my trust
and partook of my bread, has raised
his heel against me.

But you, O Lord, have pity on me, and raise me up,
that I may repay them.”

That you love me I know by this,
that my enemy does not triumph over me,

But because of my integrity you sustain me,
and let me stand before you forever.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from all eternity and forever. Amen.
Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Antiphon:
Once I said, “O LORD, have pity on me;
heal me, though I have sinned against you.”

SECOND PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O Source of all spiritual richness
whose gifts are without limit;
O generous One, whose goodness is without measure,
you have given speech to the mute,
hearing to the deaf,
sight to the blind,
strength to the paralyzed and resurrection to the dead.
Grant us your heavenly light and we shall be enlightened and walk in your presence with zeal and eagerness all the days of our lives,
and for ever. Amen.

EVENING PSALMS
Psalm 141: 1-4
O LORD, to you I call; hasten to me;
hearken to my voice when I call upon you;

Let my prayer come like incense before you;
the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.

O LORD, set a watch before my mouth,
a guard at the door of my lips.

Let not my heart incline to the evil
of engaging in deeds of wickedness

With men who are evildoers;
and let me not partake of their dainties.

Psalm 142
With a loud voice I cry out to the LORD;
with a loud voice I beseech the LORD.

My complaint I pour out before him;
before him I lay bare my distress.

When my spirit is faint within me,
you know my path.

In the way along which I walk
they have hid a trap for me.

I look to the right to see,
but there is no one who pays me heed.

I have lost all means of escape;
there is no one who cares for my life.

I cry out to you, O LORD:
I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land
of the living.”

Attend to my cry,
for I am brought low indeed.

Rescue me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me.

Lead me forth from prison,
that I may give thanks to your name.

The just shall gather around me
when you have been good to me.

Psalm 119: 105-112
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.

I resolve and swear
to keep your just ordinances.

I am very much afflicted;
O LORD, give me life according to your word.

Accept, O LORD, the free homage of my mouth,
and teach me your decrees.

Though constantly I take my life in my hands,
yet I forget not your law.

The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but from your precepts I have not strayed.

Your decrees are my inheritance forever;
the joy of my heart they are.

I intend in my heart to fulfill your statutes
always to the letter.

Psalm 117

Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!

For steadfast is his mercy towards us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

HOOSOYO
PROEMION
Praise, glory and honor to the Father, who desires to share his love with us;
to the Son, who came into the world to heal suffering humanity; to the Holy Spirit, who pours his consolation on
wounded hearts.
To the Good One is due glory and honor this evening,
and all the days of our lives,
now and for ever. Amen.

SEDRO
O Christ,
Word of the Father and only Son,
you shared our life that you might share your life with us, and made us see your mercy and goodness in the world.
You wished to show all the depth of your love and your loving kindness:
you commanded the paralytic to pick up his litter
and walk among the crowd in the sight of everyone,
that all might believe in your divinity,
You gave joy to this sick man;
you gave sight to him who was blind from birth;
and you renewed hope in the heart of the widow who lost her child and wept over her only son.
You performed these signs
that all might know that you are the Son equal in all things
to the Father.
Grant us now the power to proclaim:
“You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”
Strengthen our faith and, confirm our trust in you
in spite of the darkness which surrounds us.
May your pure blood, poured out for the salvation of all, pardon and redeem sinners.
O Lord,
we thank you for the great gift which you have given
to your Church,
allowing it to forgive sins in your name and to pardon the repentant.
Blessed are you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.

QOLO
Holy are you, O God, you descended among us and forgave our sins.

Holy are you, O Strong One, you healed the paralyzed and crippled, and they glorified you.

Holy are you, O Immortal One, you raised the dead from their tombs.

O Church, sing praise and say: Blessed is he who became flesh and forgave our sins.

ETRO
O God,
save us from weakness and laxity in our spiritual lives.
Accept the incense and prayers we offer you this evening for the forgiveness of our sins.
Pardon all the offenses we have committed,
for you love us and desire our salvation.
Glory to you,
now and for ever. Amen.

READINGS
MAZMOORO
Glory to the Son of God who said to the paralytic: “Your sins are forgiven, rise up and walk.”

Lord, your servants thank you because you healed the paralytic; your just ones praise you, because you forgave their sins.

Glory to him who said: “Ask and I will give to you, knock and I will open the door to the repentant.”

SYNAXARION
On this Sunday, the Maronite Church commemorates the miracle of Jesus’ healing the paralytic.
We find that Jesus had returned to Capernaum. Since the news of his healing of the leper had become spread throughout the region, he had become very well-known. For this reason, he probably went to Capernaum by night in order to avoid the crowds. The house he went to was

probably that of Simon Peter. By morning the house was filled with people. The crowd was filled with simple believers who wanted to listen to the Master, but mingled in the crowd were members of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin had the function of guarding the orthodox teaching of the Jewish faith. The members of the Sanhedrin were not pleased with the teaching of this new master and were seeking a way to entrap him. In any case, there were many there who came to profit from the presence of the Lord.
Many times Jesus came to us, visits us. He comes to us with an idea, a word we hear, a person who is suffering or joyful. Jesus is present. However, many times we neglect to notice him. We do not take advantage of his presence and we simply let the moment pass. We fail to be like the disciples on the road to Emmaus who invited Jesus to stay with them and eventually recognize him in the breaking of the bread.
One of the people who had heard about Jesus’ presence in Capernaum was a paralytic.
Since he was unable to go on his own, he sought the assistance of four friends who would carry him. The crowds were surrounding the house, so the men were forced to go on the roof and lower the paralytic through a hole. Such actions were proof of the faith of the paralytic and his friends.
Jesus looked at the man and said, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” This was not a cure, but a promise of a cure. For the Jews believed that the sickness of the man was caused by his sins. In the Jewish mind, there is a very strong connection between sin and suffering (See Job 4:7). However, the forgiveness of sins was the prerogative of God alone. For any man to claim to do that was an insult to God and blasphemy, punishable by death (See Leviticus 24:10).
The experts of the law who were present were afraid to confront Jesus publicly since the Master was too popular. But Jesus read their thoughts and questioned their doubts. Since no one could determine whether a man’s sins had been forgiven or not, Jesus performed a physical cure; he told the man to get up and walk. In this incident, Jesus signed his own death warrant. From that moment, he was in opposition to the Jewish authorities who would eventually seek his life. Jesus was on his way to glory.
Like the paralytic, we must expend all of our efforts to take advantage of the healing presence of the Lord. Let us seek the Lord with faith and humility, asking him to cleanse us.

SCRIPTURE READINGS
A Reading from the Book of Sirach
Sirach 11: 6-17
The exalted often fall into utter disgrace; the honored are given into enemy hands. Before investigating, find no fault; examine first, then criticize. Before hearing, answer not, and interrupt no one in the middle of his speech. Dispute not about what is not your concern; in the strife of the arrogant take no part. My son, why increase your cares, since he who is avid for wealth will not be blameless? Even if you run after it, you will never overtake it; however you seek it, you will not find it. One may toil and struggle and drive, and fall short all the more. Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little strength and great misery — Yet the eyes of the LORD look favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust, Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many. Good and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the LORD. Wisdom and understanding and knowledge of affairs, love and virtuous paths are from the LORD. Error and darkness were formed with sinners from their birth, and evil grows old with evildoers.
The LORD’s gift remains with the just; his favor brings continued success.
A Reading from the Second Letter to the Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 2: 13-17
But we ought to give thanks to God for you always, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in truth. To this end he has [also] called you through our gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

SUPPLICATION
O Son, by your resurrection you saved the Church from error; hear our supplications and have mercy on us.

You reconciled heaven and earth, grant peace to your Church and keep her children in the light of the cross.

The Son of God saw the faith of the paralytic; he had compassion on him, forgave his sins, healed him and gave him joy. Blessed is he who has compassion on us and cares for us.

Glory be you, Son of God, in healing the paralytic, you have revealed the healing of humanity and the forgiveness of our sins; blessed is the Father who sent you to us and the Spirit who comforts our hearts.

May Christ who accepted the fasting of our ancestors
accept our fasting and our prayer and have mercy on us.

Exalt, O Lord, the memory of your Mother and your saints; through their prayers grant pardon to us and to our deceased. Through the prayers of your Mother, the prophets, apostles and martyrs, watch over the living, and in your mercy, forgive those who have died.

HOOTOMO
Let us confess, adore, and praise the holy and glorious Trinity: Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit.

TRISAGION

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Holy are you, O God;
Holy are you, O Strong One;
Holy are you, O Immortal One;
have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, forgive us and have mercy on us.
Lord, hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord, accept our worship and our prayers.
Lord, come to our assistance and have mercy on us.

LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who are in heaven,
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

O Lord
the night and the day are yours;
you uphold the light and the sun.
Through your power you direct the sequence of the seasons.
O Lord,
you have brought the day to its close and called forth the night.
Be for us that great Day that never ends.
In the evening let your light shine in our hearts,
and in the darkness of the night,
enlighten us with the knowledge of your truth.
And so, through all the days of our lives,
we shall praise you, Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Amen.

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
Let us thank God for all the graces he has bestowed on us this day which has passed in calm and peace.
Let us recall our failings against the commandments of God and the Church in thought, word, deed, or omission.

We ask for God’s pardon as we pray.

“Forgive us, Jesus!”

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Glory be to you, O Lord.
Glory be to you, O Lord.
Glory be to you, O Lord.

God,
Father in heaven,
by your living and holy name,
keep us from evil and lead us not into temptation:
for we call upon you, O Lord, our God, our constant hope, glory to you for ever.
O Lord, our Lord,
may our humble worship be pleasing to you;
may our prayers come before you and our actions give
you honor.
Let your mercy, kindness, help, grace and divine love be poured abundantly upon us poor sinners,
both in heaven and on the earth
which you have created in your goodness.
O Lord, our God, to you be glory for ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL
Peace be with you.
And also with you.

O God,
through the prayers of your Mother and the saints who have believed in you;
through the prayers of the prophets, apostles, martyrs and confessors;
through the prayers of the just, the priests, the holy fathers, the pastors and doctors of true faith;
through the prayers of N., Pope of Rome, N., our Patriarch, and N., our Bishop,
forgive your people and have mercy on your flock.
May God bless, forgive, sanctify, purify, and keep each of the faithful united with us in this spiritual office.
May mercy and compassion be upon us and all the faithful who dwell here.
May peaceful rest be granted to those who have died in the faith.
May the faithful who live here experience the protection of his victorious cross.

May we and all his servants who adore him with bowed head, receive the mercy of the holy and glorious Trinity:
Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit,
to whom be glory now and for ever.
Amen.

May God forgive your sins,
pardon your failings,
and deliver you from the power of the enemy.
May he grant you the remission of your offenses.
Go in peace, and pray to Christ for me.