Is 35:1-10;    Ps 85:9-14;    Lk 5:17-26

R. Our God will come to save us!

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD --for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.



When he saw their faith, he said, "As for you, your sins are forgiven." 

This was not really what the paralyzed man expected. He craved physical healing, and everyone was taken-off guard -- shocked, even -- by Jesus' statement. Jesus was claiming the power of God to forgive sins. To prove a point, he healed the man's body as well as his soul. Even the Pharisees were struck with awe and glorified God. We can also imitate Jesus by sincerely forgiving those who have harmed us personally and those who have harmed our society by acts of greed, corruption, racism, violence, even terror. The courage to forgive others will lead to inner peace and the strength to work for just resolutions to conflicts. 

Lord, for forgiveness, we pray.

(By Portia Clark)

Now consider a similitude of this: the angels who turned inward towards God in love and fruition, with all that they had received from Him, found beatitude and eternal rest; but those who turned towards themselves, and sought rest in themselves with self-complacency in the natural light, their rest was short and was unlawful. And they were blinded, and there was a wall of separation between them and the external light, and they fell into darkness and eternal restlessness. This is the first contrary way; which one possesses by resting in false quietude.