Word to the Wise
Thursday, July 5, 2018 - Thursday in the 13th Week in Ordinary Time
[Amos 7:10-17 and Matt 9:1-8]"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. [Matthew]
In recounting this incident, the evangelist Matthew has edited the story to eliminate the ingenuity of the stretcher bearers in bringing the paralytic up on the roof and lowering him down in a crowded room! [Mk 5:1-12; Lk 5:17-26] The result is to place less emphasis on the healing and more emphasis on Jesus' power to forgive sins. Since the scribes in the audience would consider this a prerogative of God alone, and since they saw Jesus as a mere rabbi, Jesus' claim seemed blasphemous to them. So, Jesus equates his words of healing with his words of forgiving and demonstrates his power.
I have just recently completed a retreat for some Dominican sisters which included a service of forgiveness and healing. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick outside of Mass, includes an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the very beginning. The retreat coordinator has since told me that many of the sisters were very grateful for this service. My experience in parish missions also has made this clear to me. I include in each mission separate services of forgiveness and anointing.
Forgiveness is part of true and complete healing. Curing may eliminate an illness, but may leave other connected difficulties unresolved. We know this when a beloved family member becomes dangerously or terminally ill. Family or personal problems become accented. The sacramental powers of the Church offer a way through this. We believe that these powers have been "given to humans" by Jesus and have reason to glorify God for this gift! The paralytic was not simply cured, but restored to his community, which included the faithful friends who brought him to Jesus! This is truly a story of power and of love. AMEN