Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Mt 9: 1-8
July 06, 2023 | Thursday

Today’s Gospel

Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his hometown. Here, they brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a bed. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, “Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven.”

Some teachers of the law said within themselves, “This man insults God.” Jesus was aware of what they were thinking; and said, “Why have you such evil thoughts? Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? But that you may know, that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the paralyzed man, “Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home!” The man got up and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such power to human beings.

The story of the healing of the paralytic man clearly shows that the man and those who bring him to Jesus are seeking release from paralysis. But exceeding their expectations, Jesus answers a deeper problem beyond the man’s physical ailments. Jesus took a step further by assuring the man that his sins are forgiven. The story may have echoed Christian beliefs about the forgiveness of sins in baptism and baptism bringing about the end of the dominion of sin and death over the Christian. From these, let us reflect on this: Are we aware of our own sins? Let us ask for forgiveness of our sins to be whole again as a person. /Vulnerasti, 2023