Today’s
Gospel Text: And
getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, they brought
to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to
the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." 3 And behold, some of the
scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." 4 But Jesus, knowing their
thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to
say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? 6 But that you may know that
the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he then said to
the paralytic - "Rise, take up your bed and go home." 7 And he rose and went home.
8 When the crowds saw it,
they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. Matt 9:1-8
Reflection: God
indeed forgives sins and he alone has the authority to do so.
No
human being can forgive sins and they do not have the authority to do so on
their own.
Why
can’t human beings forgive sins like God?
It
is the nature of sin that makes it impossible for human’s to interfere in the
forgiveness process.
The
primary aspect of this nature is the horizontal effect of sin and at the most
we can forgive those who harm us but what happens to those who harm others or
we harm others and the other doesn’t want to forgive?
Can
God intervene in such a situation? God in Christ Jesus has purchased that right
also and his beloved can avail of this with sincere repentance.
The
second dimension of the nature of sin and its consequence is that when we sin
we are going directly against God and his love for us. We are rejecting God’s
love for ourselves.
And
thus we invite many of our physical and psychological illnesses and diseases
because at the root of it the human spirit is crushed and burdened with its
sins.
Jesus
through his sacrificial death on the cross ransomed us form this slavery to sin
and decay and even shown us the way to the Father; the path of eternal life.
By the
shedding of his blood we can now avail the forgiveness of all our sins and
through this blood that is able to cleanse us we can now approach the presence
of God. (cfr. Eph. 1:7; 3:12)
God’s
life is now ours and we now share in this life through every sacramental
participation because God through Christ Jesus has shared his very life with
us. (cfr. Jn.10:10)
Prayer: Give us life, and we will
call on thy name! Restore us, O Lord God
of hosts! let thy face shine,
that we may be saved! Ps 80:18-19
DD = Dedicated
Discipleship: Come grow
in the Lord with us
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