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Gospel: 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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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“Take courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
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As nice as that sounds – the forgiveness of sins – the scribes don’t seem to care. All they see is a man paralyzed, lying on a stretcher!
If Jesus is the miracle worker he claims to be, then why not heal his body?
The scribes see what many do – only that which is physical.
Jesus, however, always sees more.
The day will come when this man’s body – although miraculously healed today – is planted into the earth.
But his soul – freshly purified by Christ – will live forever.
That’s what matters.
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While it’s a good thing to be physically healthy – to honor our bodies – how much effort do we spend honoring our spiritual lives?
Is there any part of us that is paralyzed – by fear, doubt, or uncertainty?
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“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
May the same Lord who purified the paralytic, purify us today.
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Image credits: (1) The Messy Middle (2) Jesus Heals the Paralytic, Christian Art (3) Walking in the Spirit, WordPress