Miscellaneous

Gospel:
The Holy Gospel According to St. Mark. (Chapter 2:1-12)

At that time Jesus entered Caparnaum, and it was reported that He was at home. And immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even around the door. And He spoke the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four. And since they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was, and, having made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” Now some of the Scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man blaspheme in this way? Who can forgive sins, besides God?” And at once Jesus, knowing in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why are you arguing these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your pallet, and walk?’ But that you may know the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” – He said to the paralytic – “I say to you, arise, take up your pallet, and go to your house.” And immediately he arose and, taking up his pallet, went forth in the sight of all, so that they were all amazed, and gloried God, saying, “Never did we see anything like this!”

The Lord said, “I am the Door. If any one enters by me he shall be safe, and shall go in and out, and shall find pastures. The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. But the hired hand, who is not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf snatches and scatters the sheep; but the hired hand flees because he is a hireling, and has no concern for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, even as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have that are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.”
(John 10:8-16)