Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 1st July
Message from Fr Paul for Thursday, 1st July 2021
With 1st July we begin the seventh month and the second half of the year. It seems hard to believe. One of the effects of lockdown, whether full or partial, is that my memory is failing me. The days, weeks and months just run into each other and it’s hard to distinguish one from the other. Now, I’m not talking about nature and what is going on outside in the fields and hedgerows, but what is going on inside my head and the daily round of life in the monastery. People I speak with seem to be having the same experience. It’s even worse if your memory is beginning to fail you anyway on account of, dare I say it, old age. Thank God for a sense of humour!
Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew, (Mt 9: 1-8), sees us begin a new chapter, as Jesus gets into a boat, crosses the water and comes to his own town. The centre of his ministry was Capernaum, not Nazareth. Jesus and his disciples seem to have spent a lot of time in boats, going to and fro across the Sea of Tiberius. Their only other method of travel was to walk. No sooner has he arrived than, “some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ And at this some scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, ‘Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he said to the paralytic – ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for giving such power to men.” It’s a beautiful story, beginning with family and friends bringing a paralytic to Jesus, who is moved by their faith. Jesus speaks gently, assuring the paralytic of forgiveness. We remember that the ancients always associated sickness with sin, hence forgiveness. The scribes immediately accuse him of blasphemy, as only God can forgive sin, but Jesus can read the thoughts of their hearts. He calls them wicked thoughts, and so to prove that he has the power to forgive, he will show that he can also heal, healing being the sign of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. He orders the paralytic to stand up and carry his sleeping mat home, and this he does. Today the account isn’t about gratitude and thanksgiving, but about forgiveness and obedience. The man does what Jesus asks him to do. However, we are left with the reaction of the crowd, a feeling of awe and praise for God at the power that Jesus has been given from on high. They just stop short on this occasion of declaring him to be the Son of God and Messiah, but we are moving in that direction.
Lord, we ask you to forgive us our sins and to heal our infirmities, that we too may be filled with awe at your power to save and so sing your praises for all eternity. Amen.
