Courage, child
Published Jul 1, 2021 12:16 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
The Lord tests Abraham’s fidelity by asking him to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. The sacrifice does not push through because Abraham’s devotion to God is proven. Moreover, the Lord disapproves of human sacrifice on the part of Israel, as pagan kings are used to do. Still, Abraham is ready to prove his faith even at the cost of his child. In the Gospel, Jesus sees the faith of the paralyzed man and his friends and tells him, “Courage, child.” This time, there is no child sacrifice that is abrogated due to faith that is professed; rather, sins are remitted. And with the removal of the more serious sickness of the soul due to sin, the health of the body is restored. The paralyzed man, a “child” of God, is cured by Jesus, and God is glorified.
GOSPEL • MATTHEW 9:1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. 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.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 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.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
The Lord tests Abraham’s fidelity by asking him to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. The sacrifice does not push through because Abraham’s devotion to God is proven. Moreover, the Lord disapproves of human sacrifice on the part of Israel, as pagan kings are used to do. Still, Abraham is ready to prove his faith even at the cost of his child. In the Gospel, Jesus sees the faith of the paralyzed man and his friends and tells him, “Courage, child.” This time, there is no child sacrifice that is abrogated due to faith that is professed; rather, sins are remitted. And with the removal of the more serious sickness of the soul due to sin, the health of the body is restored. The paralyzed man, a “child” of God, is cured by Jesus, and God is glorified.
GOSPEL • MATTHEW 9:1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. 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.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 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.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.