The Word God Spells

Matthew 9: 1-8
Gn 22:1-9 / Ps 115

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.’
(Matthew 9:2)

Repentance comes before we’re healed;
With sin, miracles won’t happen.
Our faith can help, but not until
All our sins have been forgiven.

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “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 so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And 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 men.

Reflection

Matthew’s Gospel relates that when Jesus saw the faith of the men who had brought a paralytic to Him for healing, the first thing He did was to forgive the paralytic’s sins before He healed him. Why? Because a person paralyzed by sin has to reconcile himself to God first before he can receive God’s healing grace. A person in the state of sin cannot be receptive to God’s gift, because sin has weakened his faith. Jesus knew his thoughts, and that was why He assured him, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”

Being omniscient, Jesus knew that the paralytic wanted to come to terms with his sinful past, and so put priority in forgiving his sins. It was also for the benefit of those who doubted His authority to forgive sins, as well as to reward the faith of the men who brought their sick friend to Him that He cured the man of his paralysis.

It was a common belief among the Jews in Jesus’ time that people with incurable ailments were being punished for their sins. Even today, this view may hold true in cases where physical disability or disease is the consequence of excesses or lack of discipline. Paralysis may be triggered by a stroke (a blood clot in a brain artery), which in most cases is caused by eating too much fatty foods (lechon, steak), aggravated by smoking, and drinking alcoholic beverages excessively. Gluttony is a mortal sin because eating excessively is harmful to our health. Proverbs 5:23 says, “For lack of discipline, a man dies because of his excessive folly.” In the context of the proverb, this saying refers to the sin of lust, but it applies as well to all sins that inevitably lead to the deterioration of a man’s body and the destruction of his soul.

Health and physical fitness are the results of the discipline we apply in leading a wholesome lifestyle. We should regard our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit so that we can take better care of them. We have heard it often said, “Our bodies are gifts from God; how we take care of them, and how we use them for God’s glory is our gift to Him.”

Lord Jesus, we thank You for the sacrament of Penance, which enables the remission of our sins. May we always avail of this healing of our souls so that, freed from the paralysis of sin we may lead healthy, wholesome lives for the glory of your kingdom. Amen.