Jesus heals a Man by Carl Bloch
Today’s Gospel is from the 5th chapter of John, where Jesus heals a man at the pool of Bethesda who had been ill for 38 years! Most of John’s Gospel is intended to lead the reader to an act of faith in the person of Jesus as the Son of God, as the Savior.
Many who were ill came to this place in Jerusalem for healing. It is no wonder Jesus went there to be with them, and to care for them.
Out of all those who were sick, why did Jesus select this particular person? Was it because of the length of his illness? Was it because he needed the help of someone else? Or maybe it was because Jesus knew he above all the others would be a good witness to others of what Jesus did for him? Perhaps, it was because Jesus also knew he could handle the scrutiny of those who do not believe in Jesus and are seeking to challenge him?
After he is healed, Jesus finds him and tells him and told him: “Look you are well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may happen to you.”
For me, this particular account of healing is highly symbolic for all of humanity. Each of us is a sinner. None of us are capable of healing this particular wound on our own. We need the encounter with Jesus, who acknowledges our humanity in the midst of our deepest suffering; who alone can provide forgiveness for our sins and restore us to life.
Lent is an opportunity to be with Jesus, not to point out the sins of everyone else, but to humbly acknowledge ‘my own sin.’ Lent is a time to acknowledge that we, too, are sick, lying helplessly upon the earth, with no one to ‘bring us to the water.’
Again you are invited to listen to God’s Word and homily.
Know of my prayers for you …
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