Homily

It is always important when reading John's gospel to remember one vital term that the evangelist uses over and over again, and that term is "the Jews." We heard today, "So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, 'It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.'" Obviously, "the Jews" cannot mean that this small group was Jewish, but the paralyzed man was not Jewish. When St. John uses the term, "the Jews," he almost always means those Jews who were hostile to and opposed to Jesus, Who is also, don't forget, a Jew.

Jesus tells the man, "Look you are healed. Do no sin any more so that nothing worse happens to you." That invites the question: Was the man paralyzed because of his sins? In two weeks we will hear the disciples ask about a man born blind, whether he was blind because of his sins or the sins of his parents, and Jesus will answer, "Neither." So what about this paralyzed man? Is it possible that God punished him for his sins by paralyzing him? It is possible because God can do as He wishes, BUT we do not see much direct evidence in the New Testament that this is how God works to punish people. We do see sometimes that God causes a physical problem in order to bring out something greater. For example St. Paul, after his vision on the road to Damascus becomes blind for three days until Ananias lays his hands on him and then baptizes him. Certainly the paralytic is a sinner, but is that the reason why he cannot walk? It is not clear. And what is the "something worse" that might happen to him if he continues to sin, as Jesus warns him? Will he become a quadriplegic and lose the use of both arms and legs? Will he become blind, or mute or both? Will he suffer chronic pain, or will he become a leper? Will he turn into a Beavers fan, and start wearing orange and black?

It is not surprising I guess, to wonder what worse illness might come to this man if he continues to sin, but perhaps Jesus is not talking about a physical problem at all, but a spiritually worse thing. The "worse thing" is very likely not meant to be thought of as a physical handicap or illness, but rather a darkening of the soul. There are worse things to be suffered in life than paralysis, and that is all about the sickness, or the paralysis of our souls.

I also want to make another point here today as shown in the reading. Notice, in the account, what it is that these opponents of Jesus, "the Jews," are focused on: not the miracle, not the healing, but the carrying of the mat, which breaks a Sabbath rule. Now think of this—a man has been paralyzed for 38 years, Jesus comes and heals him, and so the first thing out of the mouths of these guys is to yell at the man for walking around carrying his mat! Then when they find out later that it was Jesus who had healed the man, what is their response? Do they give thanks to God for having witnessed such a miracle? Are they interested in speaking to the person who cured this man? Has this miraculous event made their faith stronger? Absolutely not. We read in verse 16, "Therefore the Jews began to persecute Jesus because He did this on a Sabbath." It was a complete and total lack of interest in the work of God, which was right in front of their eyes, because they had their own agenda and God was not required. This is the worst thing that can happen to a person—to think that God is not required.

They were the spiritual leaders and authorities for much of Israel, but most of them, while proclaiming that they were the true Israelites who followed the Law to the highest degree, most of them didn't really think God was required in any significant way. That's why, when a miracle happens in front of them their thoughts are not about the mercy and kindness of God, nor about who is this Jesus who performs such miraculous signs. They are only interested in their own positions as spiritual authorities and, threatened by the miracle-working Jesus, they will have to find a way to get rid of Him, so that they can carry on their spiritual work in peace. They need to get Jesus out of the way for the sake of piety.

We don't want to get Jesus out of the way, but perhaps where we struggle is to make Jesus our way. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Yet in our lives we often find it true that we follow our own way, and we fit Jesus in without much feeling that there's anything wrong with it. Jesus is great as long we can fit Him in where it is comfortable enough for us. I think part of the reason for our lack of dedication is that it is hard for us to genuinely believe that the Lord loves us. It's hard to believe he loves us even today just as we are. We have so many doubts about ourselves in different ways it seems impossible that even God could love us as we are. Maybe He could love me as part of the flock, but certainly not all by myself, alone, with all my many weaknesses and moral failings. It's a lot more comfortable to sit on my mat, the same way I've done for many years, to live life on my own terms, and that includes my faith in Christ . . . just not my total surrender. Friends, the Lord understands our weakness but if He calls us to pick up our mats today, are we ready and willing to walk after Him and follow in His way?