Reflection for July 2 Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 9:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”  

Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. 

When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

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Reflection:

Can we receive the same forgiveness and healing that Jesus gave to the paralytic?

Yes, we can! The same forgiveness and healing that Jesus graciously bestowed upon the paralytic are still available to us today through the priest, who acts in persona Christi ("in the Person of Christ"), whenever we humbly receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

In this sacred encounter, Jesus Himself welcomes us with compassion, lifts the burden of our sins, restores our souls, and renews us with His healing grace.

The sad reality, however, is that many people are still unaware of this priceless gift of God's mercy. If only we truly recognized the depth of the grace that Jesus offers us through this healing sacrament, we would not hesitate to come before Him with humble and repentant hearts. Rather than allowing guilt, shame, or fear to keep us away, we would confidently entrust ourselves to His boundless love, knowing that He longs to forgive, heal, and restore us.

Sadly, part of the reason many people remain unfamiliar with this sacrament lies with us who have already experienced its transforming grace. Too often, we keep this precious gift to ourselves. We fail to share what we have learned, and we do not always reflect in our daily lives the mercy, peace, and healing that Jesus has poured into our hearts through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Every life touched by God's mercy is also called to become a witness to that mercy so that others, too, may find hope and healing in Christ.

Yet God's invitation remains open. It is never too late to repent. It is never too late to return to Him. No sin is greater than His mercy, and no wound is beyond His healing touch. 

Let us come before Him with humility and sincere repentance, allowing Him to cleanse our hearts, restore our souls, and renew our lives. Then, having received His forgiveness and healing, let us joyfully become instruments of His mercy by encouraging others to encounter His loving presence in this beautiful sacrament.

Today, Jesus continues to say to each one of us, "Take courage." He is waiting for us—not to condemn us, but to forgive us, heal us, and draw us closer to His Sacred Heart. 

Will we set aside our fears, humble ourselves before Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and then become faithful witnesses who lead others to experience the same life-changing mercy and healing that we have so generously received?—Marino J. Dasmarinas