Word to the Wise
Thursday, July 4, 2019 - Thursday in the 13th Week in Ordinary Time
[Gen 22:1b-19 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]
Yesterday the evangelist Matthew introduced us to Jesus' power over nature in calming the storm. Today, we are introduced to his power to forgive sins! This claim would be controversial in Jesus' time and remains a point of division between our Church and many other Christian denominations.
It was controversial in Jesus' time because the Jewish teaching was that only God could forgive sins and Jesus appeared to them to be simply one more unlicensed wandering preacher. Jesus demonstrates that he has the power to do whatever he wishes, and this includes the power to forgive sin. The last line of the passage infers that he has given this power to the Church as well, which would make Christian preaching all the more unacceptable to Jewish authorities.
It is controversial in our own time because some currents in the Protestant Reformation taught that one did not need the Church or a priest to obtain forgiveness of sin. One could go directly to God in prayer. Catholic tradition holds that sacramental reconciliation is essential when it is a matter of "mortal sin" and should be practiced even for lesser misdeeds that we call "venial sin," although those may be forgiven in other ways. Baptism, Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick can have the effect of forgiveness as well, but the point remains in all of this that the Church has the authority to forgive sins in God's name. The value of this authority has been demonstrated to me both as minister and penitent over and over again. Yes, we can ask God for forgiveness, but this may tend to leave out the further requirement of conversion of life to avoid repeating the sin. We can focus a bit too much on "Your sins are forgiven," and forget the "Go and sin no more" side. God's forgiveness is not just "guilt relief" but meant to bring about transformation of life. The authority Jesus has given to the Church is meant to accomplish this transformation. AMEN