Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man. Forgiving is the best expression of love and the full realization of the law both human and divine.
1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “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? 5Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Get up and walk?” (Matthew 9:1-5)
Everyone desires for good health. Everyone desires good health for others and this is something selfless. We don’t only desire and pray for our well-being but for others as well. We realize that we are helpless and powerless when sickness, suffering, and death confront our lives. Nevertheless, when we see our lives into the very life of Jesus, we will have a better understanding of well-being and health which I actually dubbed as integrity.
The Latin dictum says, “Mens sana incorporesano.” It means a healthy mind in a healthy body.” I say as well, “Anima sana incorporesano,” to mean a “healthy soul in a healthy body.”
When we entertain evil thoughts in mind, we open the gates for unhealthy mind to cause illness of the body. We sin and we break the law, we transgress the Lord, and we hurt charity.
Sin can be personal. It can also be social. So, sin affects not only the individual person but the family, the church, the government, the school, and the whole community.
The strategy of the devil is temptation and deception. He is cunning. He will destroy first the family, and he knows logic well. Eventually, the community will collapse.
Healing and health have the word heal as the root word. Healing happens in forgiveness. Healing happens in humility to admit. Healing happens in a community. Healing happens in faith. Healing happens in Jesus. Healing happens in listening. Healing happens in honesty.
Jesus raised a dead girl and heals the sick woman. “When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. “Then one of the synagogue leaders named Jairus came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. “He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. “When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, “because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
I thank God for the 51 years of existence and the 22 years in the priesthood. I thank the people who surrounded me during the many occasions of getting sick physically, emotionally, and psychologically.
Ideally as priests, the presbyterium should be the home where a sick priest gets healed. In my experience, it is still with the biological family where true healing happens.
I have seen sick priests, including myself, who when sick return home, where there is more care and feeling of home to help recover. The family will always accept the priest whatever status or fault he might have committed and feels secure and at home. The family will magnify the goodness and godliness of the priest instead of magnifying the mistake.
Healing happens better in the family. This is one of my reflections as I celebrated my birthday.
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May 6, 2024
