Joy or indifference
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ (Matthew 9,2)
Jesus got in the boat, crossed the water and came to his own town. Then some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ And at this some scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, ‘Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he said to the paralytic – ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for giving such power to men. (Matthew 9,1-8)
Being God, Jesus has the power to forgive sins and He clearly demonstrates this in the miracle of the healing of the paralytic. Miracles are signs that reveal the Lord is God. The people are filled with trepidation and gratitude for Jesus' power to forgive sins. The same thing takes place in the sacrament of confession: the presence of divine forgiveness (Jesus) in human form (through the priest who absolves us of our sins). Are you able to consider all this with joy or only with indifference?
