Author: admin

***

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.

***

***

“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

***

Image credits: (1) Buckner International (2) Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man Tapestry, Aaron Spong (3) Access Church, Lakeland

***

Gospel: John 20: 24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But Thomas said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

Why is this story of doubting Thomas the final story in John’s Gospel?

Perhaps John is giving us permission to be Thomas. To ponder, to doubt, to question, each in our own way. I’m sure we’ve all said at some point, “Wait a minute… how can that be?”

Maybe we’ve questioned the possibility of the bodily resurrection; how personal God claims to be; or one of the many Catholic doctrines about Jesus, Mary, or the Eucharist.

It isn’t wrong to question; exercising reason is a healthy thing. But when we ask questions about our faith, we must also take the responsibility of finding the right answer.

Ultimately, every tenet of our Catholic faith is upheld by reason, even if part of the answer – like God’s existence – is shrouded in ministry.

***

Thomas reveals to us where the answers to our questions can be found – in the presence of the Church.

The reason why his heart was filled with doubt in the first place was because he wasn’t with the others when Christ first appeared. He was hiding elsewhere, grieving on his own.

The Lord only reveals himself to Thomas after Thomas re-joins the Apostolic community, and by extension, the Church.

***

This is where most of our answers can be found.

We not only have the Bible, 2,000 years of tradition, the writings of the popes, Saints, and martyrs, but also the gift of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promises will, “lead us to all Truth.”

It’s okay to be Thomas – to doubt, to ponder, to question. But when we do, make the effort to find the right answer by seeking out, praying with, and studying the wisdom of the Church.

***

***

Image credits: (1) Inc. Magazine (2) Doubting Thomas, Caravaggio (3) The Fold

***

Gospel: Matthew 8: 23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us!  We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

It’s easy to imagine the storm the disciples find themselves in. The waves are rising, cresting, then crashing upon them. It’s the middle of the night, they’re slipping, falling, soaked, and Jesus is fast asleep.

Peter awakens the Lord, crying out, “Save us! We are perishing!”

A sleepy Jesus rolls over, stands up, then calms the wind and sea. Exhausted, the disciples wonder, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

***

A surface level reading of today’s Gospel passage might lead us to conclude, “When the storms of life are raging, cry out to Jesus. Awaken him. Stop him from sleeping.”

As if the Lord is unaware of the storm we’re in.

Perhaps the deeper invitation is to learn how to be comfortable in the uncomfortable. It seems like an oxymoron, but when the storms of life are raging, God calls us to rest.

Why, you wonder? Look at the disciples.

***

It isn’t that Jesus is unaware of the water. He’s just as soaked as they are. If the ship goes down, then they all do!

But Jesus is able to rest because he has absolute confidence in his Father, who will never abandon him. As the Psalmist proclaims, “the floods of water may reach high, but you they shall not overcome.”

The Lord sees the bigger picture; the disciples got into the boat in the first place to get to the other side. Once they land, there is work for them to do.

***

So, what might this mean for us?

***

Storms do not mean we’re headed in the wrong direction or that God has abandoned us. Rather, in those moments, Jesus is inviting us to rest. We will not be overcome.

Save your energy for the other side, which God is calling you to. When the storm is over, the real work begins.

***

***

Image credits: (1) The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt (2) Calming the Storm, Eugene Delacroix (3) Cloudy River and Boat, Samiran Dakar