Arulvakku

02.07.2020 — Jesus manifests God’s heart

13th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 2nd July 2020 — Gospel: Mt 9,1-8

Jesus manifests God’s heart

Healing of the paralytic is another example to exhibit Jesus’ unique authority, not only to forgive sins but to manifest God’s depth of love. Jesus was thrilled to see the faith of some people who had brought the paralytic man for healing. Impressed by their faith, He commands healing for the paralytic. Next, He also saw the greater need of the paralytic man, for He knew the man’s sinful heart. Jesus could read his past life that was separated from God because of his sin (Is 59,2). Therefore He offered him the greatest gift of forgiveness so that he could become part of God’s kingdom. In a way, He wishes to bring him back into a relationship with his heavenly Father. But the scribes could not believe that Jesus talked about forgiving sins outside the temple, without an animal sacrifice, or taking the power of forgiveness for himself which only God can do to liberate. Going further in depth, Jesus interpreted their evil thoughts, but He never condemned them. It is a clear proof that Jesus was no ordinary man. As Son of Man, He was able to admire people’s external signs of faith, able to understand and free up the paralytic’s sinful heart and also able to know the babbling mind of the scribes. In this way, Jesus was gently and firmly claiming for himself an authority that belongs only to God. At the same time, He manifested God’s loving heart towards everyone without condemning. The crowds that witnessed the way Jesus responded to this healing, right from the beginning till the end, was led to walk away in amazement, praising God for the truth of His Kingdom.