Homily: March 29, 2022, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent.
“Do you want to be well?”
I used to wonder why Jesus asked this question. The man had been paralyzed and trying his luck at entering the pool for so many years, of course he wanted to be well, right? It was much later that I understood the deeper significance of this question.
When I was in India, I knew of a man who was always complaining about his poor health, yet he never took any medicine seriously. He simply wanted the sympathy of others. He wanted to be pitied, not to be well.
There are beggars who want to keep begging. They beg not because there is no work for them but because they do not want to change their situation.
And there are people who live with their addictions and lament about their poor circumstances, yet they reject all help to improve their lives. They have become psychologically comfortable with their condition and are used to lamenting about it.
Deep down, they do not want change. They do not want to be well - physically, spiritually, emotionally.
Jesus asked the paralysed man, “Do you want to be well?” It was a straightforward question, either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ would be the response. But he did not answer the question, instead he complained about his pitiful state, his lack of help, unfortunate circumstances, and disadvantage in getting into the pool.
Does this sound familiar? Are there areas in your life that need healing?
After healing, things would change, your life would become different, are you willing?
Lent is a season for change, for betterment of ourselves especially spiritually, to overcome the enslavement from our circumstances. And our Lord is ready to help us, to heal us, to deliver us.
Close your eyes and listen with your heart… Jesus is asking, “Do you want to be well?”
I used to wonder why Jesus asked this question. The man had been paralyzed and trying his luck at entering the pool for so many years, of course he wanted to be well, right? It was much later that I understood the deeper significance of this question.
When I was in India, I knew of a man who was always complaining about his poor health, yet he never took any medicine seriously. He simply wanted the sympathy of others. He wanted to be pitied, not to be well.
There are beggars who want to keep begging. They beg not because there is no work for them but because they do not want to change their situation.
And there are people who live with their addictions and lament about their poor circumstances, yet they reject all help to improve their lives. They have become psychologically comfortable with their condition and are used to lamenting about it.
Deep down, they do not want change. They do not want to be well - physically, spiritually, emotionally.
Jesus asked the paralysed man, “Do you want to be well?” It was a straightforward question, either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ would be the response. But he did not answer the question, instead he complained about his pitiful state, his lack of help, unfortunate circumstances, and disadvantage in getting into the pool.
Does this sound familiar? Are there areas in your life that need healing?
After healing, things would change, your life would become different, are you willing?
Lent is a season for change, for betterment of ourselves especially spiritually, to overcome the enslavement from our circumstances. And our Lord is ready to help us, to heal us, to deliver us.
Close your eyes and listen with your heart… Jesus is asking, “Do you want to be well?”
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