Thirteenth Thursday of Ordinary Time

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.”

Sometimes when we are in a state of sin, we need others to help us be healed. We, like the paralytic man, cannot do it ourselves. This is why we have the sacraments of reconciliation and the anointing of the sick. Through the priest, we are brought to Jesus and by own shared faith, we are healed by him. Sometimes we need others to point out our flaws, our blind spots, so that we can recognize where we are ill spiritually. These too, are like the people who brought the paralytic to Jesus. We might not always appreciate it when people point out our failings, but if they do it out of love, then we should be thankful for it. We should face our frailties with courage, knowing that Jesus will forgive us as long as we make our way to him through the help of family, friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

What are our physical and spiritual ailments? Who are the people who help us overcome them? Do we seek out the healing sacraments of confession and the anointing of the sick?

O Lord, give us courage to face our frailties and overcome our sins.

Amen.