MY daily reflection and prayer:
Thutsday, June 30, 2016
Thirtienth Week in Ordinary Time
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Matthew 9:1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
LET’S focus on the paralytic man lying on a stretcher brought to Jesus. According to St. Jerome, physical paralysis is an image of man’s inability to return to God by his own efforts. It is man’s inability to create his own salvation, to set the terms by which he can say he has made peace with God. It symbolizes each of us.
Surely, the paralysis is meant to speak more to the Pharisees about their souls than to the cripple who bears it. Jesus Christ rather saw stagnation in the Pharisees’ hearts than the paralatic man. In fact Jesus also offered the salvation for them. But they blocked their heart to him.
The only real problem here is their sin. So he said, “Your sins are forgiven.” Jesus forgave the paralitic man’s sin first then he healed him.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist while worshipping Jesus Christ we ask his mercy. Do we realize that the problem of life is all about holiness and about removing the chief obstacle to holiness that is sin? Do we realize that, deep down, the only things that can hurt us are the obstacles of sin and an egoistic lifestyle?
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, we come to you in this reflection ready to do whatever it is you ask. In you we find the reason to abandon the easy path for a more perfect mission of love. Grant us a deeper experience of your mercy. Help us to accept every difficulty as a new chance to purify our heart and sanctify our soul now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
