A reading from the gospel according to Matthew 9:1-8
1 After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing and came into his own town.
2 And there, people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
3 At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
5 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, pick up your stretcher and go home.”
7 He rose and went home.
8 When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

Reflection: Why do you harbor evil thoughts?

When people do something for others, what do we see?

No matter what you do, some people would rather see something evil and start to criticize you. They are the modern day scribes and Pharisees who questioned everything Jesus did.

Yet Jesus shows us the way. He sees the faith of the people and went on to forgive and heal the paralytic man that they brought to Him.

He is telling us to have courage and not be paralyzed by the criticism of people around. So then, let us arise and continue to do good. We are not perfect. We have our own weaknesses and paralysis but we have a God who is always ready to forgive us once we ask for it. Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic man. May we also learn how to forgive others’ sins.

Let us stop harboring evil thoughts. May we have the eyes to see what is good, what is true, and what is beautiful in other people. Appreciate instead of criticize is the way to build good relationships and peaceful co-existence. We glorify God when we lift others up instead of putting them down.

*****

Some people brought a paralytic man to be healed but the first thing Jesus did was to forgive the man’s sins. Jesus knew everything about the man because He is God. He knew that forgiveness alone is powerful and He knew very well that sin is the root cause of many diseases. He knew that forgiveness and acceptance could heal paralysis. He knew what the paralytic man needed to be healed.

Psychosomatic is the description experts have used to identify physical diseases caused or aggravated by mental and emotional conditions such as un-forgiveness, lack of acceptance and other emotional disorders. No amount of physicians’ attention or medicine intake will cure such a “dis-ease”. But as soon as the patient learns of his or her own worth as a human being brought about by love, forgiveness and acceptance, true healing occurs. Hence, all throughout the gospels, Jesus emphasized the need to love others as we love ourselves and to always forgive one another.

*****

In this gospel reading, we witness a profound moment of healing and forgiveness. Jesus, crossing over by boat to His own town, is approached by a group of people bringing a paralyzed man lying on a mat. Their faith and determination are evident, as they seek the only one who can provide true healing. Jesus, seeing their faith, says to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” This declaration stirs the hearts of the teachers of the law, who accuse Jesus of blasphemy. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, responds, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” He then tells the paralytic to get up, take his mat, and go home, and the man does so, much to the amazement of the crowd.

This passage teaches us several powerful lessons. First and foremost, it highlights the importance of faith. The friends of the paralyzed man believed so strongly in Jesus’ ability to heal that they took the bold step of bringing their friend to Him. Their faith was not passive; it was active and demonstrated through their actions. This encourages us to approach Jesus with the same boldness and confidence, knowing that our faith in Him can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Moreover, Jesus’ initial act of forgiving the man’s sins before addressing his physical ailment underscores the profound truth that spiritual healing is paramount. Our physical conditions, while significant, are temporary, but our spiritual state has eternal implications. Jesus prioritizes our spiritual well-being, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God, which is the ultimate form of healing.

Jesus’ response to the teachers of the law also reminds us of His divine authority. He challenges their skepticism and reveals that He possesses the power to both forgive sins and heal physical infirmities. This dual authority confirms His identity as the Son of God, who came to restore and redeem humanity. It calls us to recognize and trust in His supreme power and mercy.

Finally, the reaction of the crowd, who praised God for giving such authority to men, serves as a reminder of the proper response to Jesus’ miraculous works—gratitude and worship. When we witness or experience God’s intervention in our lives, our hearts should overflow with praise, acknowledging His goodness and sovereignty.

In our own lives, let us draw inspiration from this passage. Let us have faith that moves us to action, seek spiritual healing above all, recognize Jesus’ authority, and respond with heartfelt gratitude. In doing so, we align ourselves with the transformative power of Christ, who offers us both healing and forgiveness.