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Gospel Reading for July 02, 2026 – Matthew 9: 1-8
DIVINE AUTHORITY
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.
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It is not surprising that some of the scribes thought Jesus was blaspheming, for only God has the authority to forgive sins. What they did not yet realize was that Jesus is the Son of God.
Once again, it was faith that moved Jesus to heal the paralytic. Throughout the Gospels, he repeatedly attributes healing to the faith of the sick person or to the faith of those who lovingly bring the sick to him. In this miracle, Jesus also reveals the close relationship between our spiritual and physical well-being. Before healing the man’s paralysis, he first healed what was even more important—his relationship with God—by saying, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
Little by little, Jesus was revealing to the people who he truly was—not merely a miracle worker, but one who possesses DIVINE AUTHORITY. Unlike the prophets, who performed miracles in the name of God, Jesus healed by his own authority. In doing so, he pointed to the truth they were meant to discover: that he is the Son of God, sent by the Father to reveal him to the world, the long-awaited Messiah who has the authority to forgive sins.
Even today, it would be unthinkable for a Christian who has received the gift of healing to say to a sick person, “I heal you.” Rather, every healing is sought and given in the name of God. Likewise, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the priest does not forgive sins by his own authority. He prays, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” acting in the person of Christ and through the authority entrusted to the Church. It is ultimately Christ who forgives.
How blessed we are to live in a time when we have the Sacred Scriptures. The Old Testament reveals God’s loving plan and his long preparation for our salvation, while the New Testament contains the inspired accounts of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We now know what many during his earthly ministry had not yet fully understood—that Jesus is truly the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer.
Lord Jesus, thank you for being our Savior. Thank you for revealing to us the immeasurable love and compassion of our Father in heaven!
