Reflection for Thursday, 13th Week of Ordinary Time 

By

 

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest, Bidar

Today's WORD of GOD 

Matthew 9: 1-8

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 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.” 

 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 

 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?  Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  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.”  Then the man got up and went home.  When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man 


Today's Reflection 

In the 1st Reading, We Find a Certain Amaziah, the Priest of Bethel. He Becomes a False Prophet. He Blames & Threatens Amos for His Prophecy of Doom & Exile. 

He Complains & Slanders Amos before the King, Raising Fury in His heart to Kill Amos. 

He also Makes a False Prophecy. He Prophesies Safety & Prosperity for Israel.

But the Reality is Totally Different. GOD'S Will is Contrary to His Prophecy. 

Amaziah Falsifies the Truth, Speaks Against Amos, and Prophesies Against GOD'S Will. 

All this was because He was Full of Jealousy Against Amos & also Self-Interest to Please the King & People & thus Gain Their Favour.

In the Gospel too, the Pharisees & Scribes were like Amaziah. 

They were Filled with Jealousy Against JESUS. They would Not Tolerate HIS Authenticity, Holiness, & Compassion. 

They would Falsify HIS Divine Power of Healing & Preaching as Blasphemy. 

JESUS Heals a Paralytic. But in HIS Act of Healing, HE Says to the Paralytic, “Your Sins are Forgiven”. 

While the Paralytic was Healing Holistically, the Pharisees & Scribes Remain Spiritually Paralysed.

In the Eyes of the LORD, the Spiritual Takes Precedence Over the Physical. 

It must be Noted that Many Health Problems are Psychosomatic. This is More Evident Today when More & More People have Some Form of Stress & Depression. 

Certainly, This is Caused by the Lack of Harmony in Their Lives Arising from a Conflict between One’s ideal Values & One's Behavior & Actions. 

These Ailments, Physical & Mental, are the Result of Harmful Stress & Lack of Peace of Mind when One is Out of Harmony with the Self, with Other People & Especially with GOD.

When We are in Sin, We are Cut Off from Our Relationship with GOD. That is why It is Called ‘Mortal’ Sin – We are Spiritually Dead. 

In that Situation, We Cannot Do Anything by Our Own Power to Rise Again. 

We are Like the Paralytic in the Gospel. We Need the Help of Others 2b Able to Come Near JESUS. 

The Gospel Says ʹTheyʹ Brought to HIM a Paralyzed Man. It is ‘Their’ Faith that Sets into Motion This Miracle. 

These are the Good & Loyal Friends of the Paralytic, the Instruments that GOD Used for His Healing & Forgiveness.

Such is Precisely the Role of the CHURCH, the Community of Believers. 

It is the CHURCH, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, that Helps Us Back on Our Feet. 

Good morning

Have an awesome day

Holy martyrs of Rome pray for us