Reflections of Scripture | Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

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.

Reflection

Nothing is more important than understanding the role that Jesus has in the world. He has changed everything. Always the problem with our relationship with God is our humanity, our sins, and we feel separated. An elaborate system was devised around the temple that you could get your sins forgiven if you sacrifice something,

and Jesus said, “I want to be the one who frees you from sin.” You don't have to sacrifice anything, you have to simply receive it, and when you receive it, you have the ability to live, to rise from a place of darkness into light, to be a source of light, to do the work you're here to do. What a gift,

and it's offered free, without effort on our part, other than to believe. 

Closing Prayer

Father, shame is something that we all struggle with. It's not knowing we did something wrong. It’s feeling there's something wrong with us. We are sinners. We keep missing the mark. That's our nature, and that's why Jesus made such a strong statement about that problem. He said, “Any time you sin, you must know that you're forgiven. ” You must know that you're sin, your weakness that you're dealing with, will not in any way, shape, or form separate you from Him. That gives us hope. That gives us the ability to stand up and to do whatever we're called to do. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Kyle Cross