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Gospel Reading for July 4, 2024 – Matthew 9: 1-8
UNEASE
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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Why did Jesus heal the paralytic by connecting it to sin? Well perhaps, because he is the Son of God, he could see through the person, just as he knew the thoughts of the scribes who were accusing him of committing blasphemy. Perhaps the people who brought the paralytic were only after healing of the body, but the paralytic also prayed for healing of his soul. Although not all cases of illness are directly connected to sin, sin or being away from God, can really cause physical, mental and psychological illnesses. Being made in God’s image and likeness gives us UNEASE when we do something opposite what God is asking us to do, and this is because we are doing something against ourselves too. We can never be happy and at peace, and therefore, RESTLESS and UNDER STRESS. If what we did was grave, then the restlessness and stress will be too much, causing sleepless nights and all other kinds of discomforts which will surely affect our well-being. According to studies, stress that’s not dealt with can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and all other kinds of illnesses.
Lord Jesus, may we always rise up from sin and go home to God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation!
