Reflect today on a person you know who seems not only to be trapped in the cycle of sin and has lost hope.

They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get close to Jesus because of the crowd, they opened the roof over him. After breaking through, they lowered the mattress on which the paralytic was lying. Mark 2: 3–4

This paralytic is a symbol of certain people in our life who seem unable to turn to our Lord with their own efforts. It is clear that the paralytic wanted healing, but was unable to come to our Lord with his efforts. Therefore, the friends of this paralytic took him to Jesus, opened the roof (since there was such a large crowd) and lowered the man before Jesus.

This man's paralysis is a symbol of a certain type of sin. It is a sin for which someone wants forgiveness but is unable to turn to our Lord with their own efforts. For example, a serious addiction is something that can dominate a person's life so much that they cannot overcome this addiction with their own efforts. They need the help of others just to be able to turn to our Lord for help.

Each of us must consider ourselves the friends of this paralytic. Too often when we see someone who is trapped in a life of sin, we simply judge him and turn away from him. But one of the greatest acts of charity we can offer another is to help provide them with the means they need to overcome their sin. This can be done by our advice, our unwavering compassion, a listening ear, and any act of faithfulness to that person during their time of need and despair.

How do you treat people who are trapped in the cycle of manifest sin? Do you roll your eyes and turn around? Or do you firmly decide to be there to give them hope and to assist them when they have little or no hope in life to overcome their sin? One of the greatest gifts you can give to another is the gift of hope by being there for them to help them turn fully to our Lord.

Reflect today on a person you know who seems not only to be trapped in the cycle of sin, but has also lost hope of overcoming that sin. Abandon yourself in prayer to our Lord and engage in the charitable act of doing anything and everything possible to help them turn fully to our divine Lord.

My precious Jesus, fill my heart with charity towards those who need You most but seem unable to overcome the sin of their life that distances them from You. May my unwavering commitment to them be an act of charity that gives them the hope they need to hand their lives over to You. Use me, dear Lord, my life is in your hands. Jesus I believe in you.