Today’s Gospel’s reading is about how Jesus healed paralyzed man.. we already know that Jesus had healed many people and he had performed many miracles at that time… but today’s reading also shows us fallen humanity’s views and values in our daily life…
So once again, let’s cast a glance at today’s gospel’s reading…
“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.” - as you already know Jesus’ own town is Capernaum, which served as his headquarters - “ 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” … what do we see here? First of all ..That the faith is indispensable condition for salvation, and faith is collective as well as personal, for the faith of the paralyzed man’s friends is required for his healing…
“..son, your sins are forgiven..” these words are the most desired words to hear by God’s mouth for everyone… and especially for the man who was paralyzed and who has been tortured for a long time… but Look! What some people said, who were gathered around him, not to listen and get to know him… but only to judge him and only catch him in wrong teachings…
“At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”…
how honorable and responsible is to carry a name of a teacher… and especially “teachers of the law” … I won’t tell you, historically … who were they or what kind of persons they were… (I believe that you already know about it…) but I’d like to direct your thoughts.. for a second.. to the title: “teachers of the law”… who has the right to teach? First of all he who has learned and has education and who communicates easily with people... who is attentive about the inner meaning of teaching… and who is attentive to inner meaning of the law… all the rules of divine law… is for kindness of humanity,…and is for the well-being of people… God doesn’t need our rules only for rules… God needs our love… because we are the part of this love… and by helping each other we’re trying to achieve this love… that’s why when Jesus saw a faith – a fruit of love in this paralyzed man, he healed him…
but when man without observation, impatiently discussing and saying things, shows us how external and empty his soul is…
if we look more deeper in these words: “This fellow is blaspheming!”…
… we will see the roots of where it came from… it’s one of the most detrimental emotions in a human being.. when you are in trouble, when you see your neighbor – friend is happy and triumphant… we call it envy..!! this feeling is destroys a man.. it corrodes him from the inside. Unfortunately almost every man has this sense inside their selves more or less… only a humble man doesn’t have this feeling. If we discover even a little bit of envious feeling in our hearts, we must reject it immediately…
“Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?” – truly the evil thought is envy too… 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man stood up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.”
In this part of gospel’s reading we see three signs of Jesus’ divinity;
1) that he knows the secrets of hearts;
2) that he grants the forgiveness of sins, a power which belongs to god alone; and
3) that this healing is perfomed merely by the power of his word.
So lets lift up our hearts and minds and be attentive with our thoughts and our inner life because God is watching us!!!
May God Bless You!!!
in Christ,
Hegumen Ioane+
No comments:
Post a Comment