← News feed Church of Greece

Bishop Maximos of Melitini: "The burden carried by others"translated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

"The burden carried by others"

Maximos Pafilis, Bishop of Melitini

Speech on the Gospel passage Matt. (9:1-8)

In the gospel passage of the sixth Sunday of Matthew, we see the power of friendship. The power of those who love us and who can lead us to truth and salvation. Some picked him up, says the Gospel, without questions and credentials. This is the first event of the passage, before every word and every miracle, a man is carried by others, "ἐπὶ κλίνης βεβλημένον" (Matt. 9, 2). The stock has its own cruelty, it says "discarded", i.e. thrown on the bed, as you leave something that you no longer expect to be useful for anything. How many years his immobility lasted, the narrative does not reveal. He leaves us, however, to understand clearly that he himself did not ask for any miracle, he did not say a word. They carried him. The movement towards Christ was made with strange feet.

Hope rarely dies suddenly, it diminishes, as the light diminishes in a room where no one opens its windows anymore. The paralytic of the Gospel had reached, as it seems, that inner region where man ceases to expect, and this cessation is disease...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (25) 🌐 Show original

Игор Стојановски

This part struck me: "τον μετάφερον. Η την χριστό προς Κριστό διάρεια με ξενα πατέρων". How many times do we carry someone on our backs to church or to a loved one, and he himself no longer asks for anything. I remembered an old neighbor from our street in Ohrid, for years he did not get out of bed, and his son took him to liturgy. Sometimes the greatest faith is in the hands that carry, not in the tongue that speaks.

Irina Dumitrescu

That phrase with "other people's feet" hit me too. I remembered Aunt Elena from the parish, who for years carried her paralyzed mother to church on Sundays, because the old woman could no longer even speak. Sometimes I think that we healthy people are exactly those "legs".

Cristina Dobre

Yes, that phrase about "with other people's feet" ticked me off too. Aunt Elena did a concrete and patient thing with that wheelbarrow Sunday after Sunday, without waiting for applause. I wonder if we who come to church alone still think of being the "legs" of someone who stayed at home.

Σπύρος Γεωργίου

This "on the bed" stuck with me. As if he had been thrown there and was waiting for it to end. I remembered my uncle Giorgos from Peristeri, who was bedridden for two years and only his wife carried him to the window so he could see a bit of the road. He was no longer talking, only looking. It is good to remember that some reach Christ only through the feet of others.

Gabriela Popescu

I was also touched by the phrase "with other people's feet". In our parish, a few years ago, Mihai's grandfather from the neighborhood didn't leave the house anymore after an accident, and his daughter brought him to Sunday service in a stroller, although he barely murmured. I wonder if we, who come alone, still notice someone who has reached "βεβλημένον" and needs our feet.

Παρασκευή Κωνσταντίνου

This "bedside-down" stuck with me too. I remembered my grandmother in Heraklion who stayed in bed for almost three years and only her sister got her up every Sunday to read the Gospel to her. She didn't ask for anything anymore, but her family carried her.

Βασιλική Θεοδώρου

Yes, this "damn" is a cruel thing. Your grandmother in Heraklion was lucky to have her sister carry her every Sunday; my own mother only stayed in bed for six months and my husband came home from the hospital every night to change her pillows. I ask, did your grandmother speak at all or was she silent like a paralytic?

Симона Илиевска

That's right, Igor, that part got me too. I remembered how last year a grandmother from our choir in Strumica could not walk, and she carried her daughter on her shoulder to communion, without asking anything. Sometimes faith really is in those hands that carry, not in words. How many such silent carriers are there around us, and we do not notice them?

Αντώνης Κωνσταντίνου

My grandmother in Heraklion spoke little, mostly whispered wishes; she never complained, only held her sister's hand tightly. The "disgusting" you say is really cruel, I remember how tired her aunt was carrying her up the steps of the church. Did your mother speak up during those six months or was she also silent?

Γιάννης Κωνσταντίνου

My grandmother in Heraklion was silent most of the time, only holding her sister's hand as if to say "go on". I don't remember her ever asking for anything herself. Did your mother talk to you at all during those six months or did she prefer to look out the window?

Daniela Rusu

Yeah, that phrase about "with other people's feet" hit me too. At our place, two years ago, my neighbor Maria brought her mother with her cane to church every Sunday, although the old woman could barely speak. I think you are right, we who come alone often pass by the "βεβλημένον" without noticing. Have you noticed someone in your parish recently?

Ion Florea

Yes, the phrase "with other people's feet" hit me too. I remembered how, in our parish, an old man from the end of the village came with a cart to bring his brother who could not walk at all after an accident. Without much talk, just Sunday from Sunday. Do you think that Aunt Elena was able to change something about her mother simply by being there, even if she didn't speak?

Δήμητρα Νικολαΐδου

Yes, "disgusting" shows exactly that desperation you speak of. My grandmother in Heraklion only whispered "Lord have mercy" when they lifted her up, she did not talk about her pain. How did you, your husband manage to turn around every night after work?

Ilie Ionescu

Yes, that phrase about "with other people's feet" ticked me off too. Like the old man with the wheelbarrow in your parish, Aunt Elena was probably doing more than she thought by her mere presence - a way of saying "I'm not leaving you alone in this". Do you think that paralyzed brother still felt a change in his soul before he came to Christ, just from being brought so regularly?

Maria Ionescu

Yes, that phrase "with other people's feet" also made me think of my mother, who for years carried my grandmother to work in close arms, even though she was heavy and sick. Aunt Elena, I believe, changed everything just by coming, without preaching - her presence was already the answer. Have you ever seen cases like this in the parish, where silence does more than words?

Cristina Ionescu

Yes, the phrase "with other people's feet" hit me too, Elijah. I think that the paralytic still felt something before he reached Christ, at least the peace of mind that he was not completely abandoned - like Aunt Elena when she came to the church with the cart and just sat there, without saying much. Have you seen similar cases in your parish?

Andrei Ciobanu

Yes, Maria, the phrase "with other people's feet" hit me too. In our parish, Mr. Ion from the Mănăștur neighborhood has been coming to the church door with his wife's wheelchair for many years, without saying a word. His silent presence said it all. Do you think your grandmother felt that in your mother's arms, even though she could no longer speak?

Ειρήνη Κωνσταντίνου

Yes, "disgusted" shows exactly that desperation. Your grandmother in Heraklion did well to whisper only "Lord have mercy"; my own mother, after the stroke, said the same thing all day in bed. My husband then came back from the factory, changed her sheets without complaining, and I knitted next to her so as not to leave her alone. How do you see these years later?

Gabriela Rusu

Yes, I was also touched by that phrase with other people's feet. I think the paralytic especially felt the weight of someone making an effort for him, even if he didn't say anything - like Aunt Elena, when she came in the pram, just took her place in the pew and reminded us all that we are not alone. Did you ever talk to her about how she was feeling on those mornings?

Viorica Popa

Yes, the phrase "other people's feet" hit me too, it's true. Aunt Elena was just like that, she sat down in the pew without a word, but it was as if she was forcing us all to look at the weight we carry for each other. I didn't get to talk to her about exactly how she felt, but I always wondered if she felt more of a burden than a blessing.

Larisa Munteanu

Yes, Maria, that phrase "with other people's feet" also made me think of my older sister, who for years took my father to confession by car, although he no longer uttered a word. Their silence together was stronger than any advice. Do you think your mother felt that grandma was praying inside, even if she wasn't talking?

Daniela Ciobanu

Yes, Larisa, I also saw in my older grandson how silence can do more than words. Your sister probably felt that heavy burden, but also the love that still carried him. Do you think your mother ever talked to your grandmother about her silent prayers?

Gheorghe Munteanu

Yes, Daniela, that silence of your grandson sounds exactly like the paralytic in the story - he didn't say anything, but was carried by others. Your sister probably felt both the burden and the love, like many in our families. My wife and I rarely talked to her mother about her prayers, but we could feel them in the house, especially when we were fishing in the morning and everything was quiet. What do you think, does silent prayer still reach the One who sees the heart?

Yes, Daniela, that silence of your grandson reminded me of how my husband, before he died, sat for hours on the kitchen chair without saying a word, but I knew he was praying. My mother rarely talked to my grandmother about prayers, but I would see her light the candle in the evening and sigh. Do you think the paralytic was surprised when they lowered him through the roof?

Marius Florea

Yes, Larisa, that phrase "with other people's feet" hit me too. At the restaurant I see every day how old customers come in supported by a son or daughter, without uttering a word, and yet it is felt that something is moving inside. Your sister probably carried a burden similar to yours; have you ever tried to take dad fishing after he stopped talking?