Homily Thirteenth Thursday of Ordinary Time (Mt. 9:1-8) “Be Completely Healed”
Homily Thirteenth Thursday of Ordinary Time (Mt. 9:1-8) “Be Completely Healed”
The story of the paralytic who was brought to Jesus for healing leads to a lot of questions. One of the main questions revolves around why Jesus did not just heal the man of his paralysis. He takes time to forgive his sins but offers no physical healing at first. It seems kind of callous doesn’t it?
But we are probably looking at this episode from a very worldly perspective. When people are physically ill quite often it brings up a lot of memories. Sick people have time to look back at their lives. Suddenly, the everyday concerns of life are put on hold. Many times, remorse rises in the person that revolves mistakes that were made in the past. Moral short comings rest heavy on a person who is seriously ill. There is a sense that one wants to make peace with God.
One of the difficulties with the present pandemic for me as a priest is that I cannot freely visit the sick. I like to visit the hospital a couple times a week. I can’t do that now. The hospital will only let ministers visit when the patient asks for us specifically because of the fear that I may carry the virus into the hospital.
When I hear that someone has just been diagnosed with a serious illness, I like to go to their home to visit, but unfortunately that is discouraged presently. When people are sick, they usually want to talk about ultimate questions. Many times, they want to be reconciled to the church. The physical suffering may become secondary in their mind. Part of a cure usually revolves around spiritual remedies.
The paralytic that Jesus encounter might have been carrying a lot of guilt and shame. We know that people of Biblical times thought that illness was brought on by a sinful life. Maybe the paralytic had been told many times by religious people that his sin had brought on his suffering.
Jesus does not accuse the man of anything. He dramatically tells him his sins are forgiven. We can only imagine the relief the sick man felt when he realized he was in the state of grace. The physical cure was secondary to the spiritual cure.
Reflection Questions:
1. One of the corporal works of mercy is to visit the sick. Has there been an instance during the last few months when I not been able to visit people that I love who are ill? Is emailing and calling, etc. the same?
2. What would make me feel better, if Jesus said to me that my sins were forgiven, or if Jesus would say to me I that I was physically healthy?
Dear Parishioner,
As we approach the 4thof July we are reminded that school will be opening soon. I received updated protocols from the Diocese of Peoria yesterday and there has been a dramatic turn in what is being proposed for the fall.
Pediatricians are very much in favor of opening schools to classroom instruction. The science is showing that children are in less danger that adults from COVID 19. They are harmed more by not being able to come to school so that they may grow mentally and socially. Children do not benefit from isolation and learning at home. For that reason, Seton School will be opening to classroom instruction in the fall.
There will be safety precautions. Adults are very much at risk from COVID 19. We might ask why the schools closed in the first place. The answer is that we were dealing with the unknown. It was the safest course of action in March. But as the science becomes clearer, we can change tactics.
If you have not signed up your child for Seton School or religious education, I encourage you to do that. Hopefully, our children’s lives can become a little happier as they reunite with friends and get back into the school routine.
May Our Lady and the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark