13th Week in Ordinary Time
Courage, child, your sins are forgiven. (Matthew 9:2)
What a beautiful thing to say! Remember that in ancient Israel, it was commonly thought that people with disabilities were being punished by God either for some sin they had committed or the sins of their parents. It was a curse, in other words. But here is Jesus telling this fellow—in a very compassionate way—that he was not cursed. In fact, his sins were forgiven! He showed that God is not a forbidding, awesome deity; he is a Father who loves. He also showed that God hadn’t abandoned this poor man but was very much a part of his life, ready to work wonders in him.
Have you ever said to yourself that you deserve something bad that has happened to you? Or have you thought that you aren’t worthy of any personal attention from God because of the ways you fall short of his call? “I deserve this upset stomach,” you might think. “I was nasty to my next door neighbor yesterday.” The truth is, we find it easy to acknowledge the theory that Jesus forgives us, but we can find it much more difficult to forgive ourselves. In our hearts, we want to be set free, but somehow we still labor under a cloudof guilt and shame.
Whether it’s the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:4-42 or the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) or Zacchaeus (19:1-10) or any number of other stories, Scripture is filled with proof that Jesus’ forgiveness is boundless. All he asks is that we turn to him and humbly confess our sins. If we do, the first thing he will do is tell us to take courage because we have been forgiven. He will fill us with confidence in his love and provision. He will convince us that we belong to him and that he is always with us.
So let Jesus call you “child” today. Let him assure you that your sins have been forgiven. Then let him continue to heal your inner self. Even if you don’t see an immediate change, you will know him more deeply. And that’s the greatest healing of all!
“Jesus, thank you for your boundless mercy! Thank you that I can bring all of my needs to you for healing. Lord, I am in awe of your love!” Amen!
Genesis 22:1 (vii) After these things, God tested Avraham. He said to him, “Avraham!” and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Yitz’chak; and go to the land of Moriyah. There you are to offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will point out to you.”
3 Avraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, together with Yitz’chak his son. He cut the wood for the burnt offering, departed and went toward the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day, Avraham raised his eyes and saw the place in the distance. 5 Avraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go there, worship and return to you.” 6 Avraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Yitz’chak his son. Then he took in his hand the fire and the knife, and they both went on together.
7 Yitz’chak spoke to Avraham his father: “My father?” He answered, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “I see the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Avraham replied, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son”; and they both went on together.
9 They came to the place God had told him about; and Avraham built the altar there, set the wood in order, bound Yitz’chak his son and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10 Then Avraham put out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.
11 But the angel of Adonai called to him out of heaven: “Avraham? Avraham!” He answered, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy! Don’t do anything to him! For now I know that you are a man who fears God, because you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 Avraham raised his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. Avraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Avraham called the place Adonai Yir’eh [Adonai will see (to it), Adonai provides] — as it is said to this day, “On the mountain Adonai is seen.”
15 The angel of Adonai called to Avraham a second time out of heaven. 16 He said, “I have sworn by myself — says Adonai — that because you have done this, because you haven’t withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will most certainly bless you; and I will most certainly increase your descendants to as many as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the cities of their enemies, 18 and by your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed — because you obeyed my order.”
19 So Avraham returned to his young men. They got up and went together to Be’er-Sheva, and Avraham settled in Be’er-Sheva.
Psalm 115:1 Not to us, Adonai, not to us,
but to your name give glory,
because of your grace and truth.
2 Why should the nations ask,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 Their idols are mere silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but they can’t speak;
they have eyes, but they can’t see;
6 they have ears, but they can’t hear;
they have noses, but they can’t smell;
8 The people who make them will become like them,
along with everyone who trusts in them.
9 Isra’el, trust in Adonai!
He is their help and shield.
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