asks a question, we do well to ponder it. In this coming Sunday's Gospel the question is: "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk?'"
As true God and Man our Lord could heal the paralytic. But that healing would not do much good apart from forgiveness. For it would only be temporary and then death and judgment. But with forgiveness, we can lie on our mats and die in peace.
For forgiveness was not easier. It was the harder thing to say. It was spoken as promise that the holy blood of Christ would blot out the sin of the world; it hinged upon the mystery of the Holy Cross.
Whenever He speaks His forgiveness to you, it is not mere words. They are blood-soaked words; gifts of His very life given up for you. And because He has spoken those words to you, you will indeed on the last day rise, take up our mat, and head home. His home. For you will be forgiven AND healed.
Glory to Your cross, O Lord, and to Your condescension!
ISTM the point is this: Would God work a miracle of healing for anyone He had not forgiven? Would He cure a person against whom He was holding a grudge? Obviously not! Thus, whenever, wherever we see a cure (or any miracle) we see forgiveness. Any loving act presupposes forgiveness. Hence, the question was rhetorical. The one equates to the other.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, when we behold the Life-bearing (Lev. 17) blood of Christ poured out upon the world, we are to understand: this is forgiveness. He wouldn't heal me, wouldn't die for me, wouldn't give me Life, without having forgiven me.
Anastgasia