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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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“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
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I often use this Gospel passage while celebrating the Sacrament of Anointing as both a comfort and a challenge.
It’s a comforting passage because there is a man who’s paralyzed. His friends place him at the feet of Jesus, trusting that Christ can heal him. And seeing their faith, the Lord says to the paralytic, “Rise.” Suddenly, the man stands up, takes his stretcher, and walks home.
I’ve witnessed stories just like this in my priestly ministry.
People have suffered from cancer, double pneumonia, brain damage, or some other affliction. After being anointed, they were completely healed! It has happened nearly a dozen times in the last few years.
Such stories of healing are reminders that Christ is present in the Sacraments. That’s undeniably a comfort.
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But this Gospel passage also presents a challenge.
As human beings, it’s easy for us to focus on that which is physical. If a person is sick, then we want their body restored to health!
But notice what the Lord says to this paralytic in the Gospel first. Before he is healed physically, the Lord looks upon the man and says, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
To call this man a “child” means that he’s been welcomed into God’s family, an invitation that comes after his sins have been forgiven. This is what matters most in the mind of God – not the healing of this man’s paralysis, but the state of his soul.
While his body was healed for a few years, his soul was healed forever.
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So, it is with us.
Often, we seek the Lord’s healing power. While it can be granted, this Gospel passage reminds us to “seek first what is above,” being concerned most about our identity as children of God who will live with him forever.
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Image credits: (1) Buckner International (2) Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man Tapestry, Aaron Spong (3) Access Church, Lakeland