THE JOY AFTER THE PAIN - 03/21/23 (Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent)

John 5:1–6

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032123.cfm

Blessed Tuesday! In today's gospel reading, there was a man who was paralyzed and ill for 38 years. Many people who were blind, lame and paralyzed wanted to touch the waters in this miraculous pool for them to be healed. Our Lord knew his sufferings and that he was paralyzed for a long time. As such, He asked him, "Do you want to be healed?" One of the most difficult experienced we can have is when we become sick and suffer. It's also painful to see someone suffering for a long time. The truth is, God is always asking us deep within our hearts the same question, "Do you want to be healed?" But, it's also an unfortunate fact that there are many people who fall to discouragement and to despair. Why does this happen? One reason why this occurs to many people is because of focusing on the sufferings they experience. 

This is what we can also see in the response of the paralyzed man to Jesus. In other passages in the Gospels, when our Lord asked other people whether they wanted to be healed, they would always say "yes", and they would submit themselves to God's will. But, the response of the paralyzed man was different. Instead of saying "yes", he replied by saying that no one was helping to carry him in the pool, and he was always stepped down by someone else. This happened for 38 years. And, due to his sufferings, he seemed to lose hope. When we also dwell on our problems and our sufferings, we will lose our focus on the presence of God within us. Yet, what we can also see is the mercy of our Lord Jesus for us. He went to Jerusalem to come and heal the paralyzed man even though the man forgot to trust in God. Jesus loves us that He chose to enter into our sufferings by suffering on the Cross. When the gospel reading also speaks of Jerusalem, God is also reminding us of the sufferings of Christ on the Cross and His glorious resurrection on the third day. In the same way, when we unite our sufferings with the sufferings of Christ by accepting everything, even our sufferings and sickness, with patience and confidence in God, we will also be united with our Lord in the joy of everlasting life. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

Fasting and Abstinence during Lent:

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/56337/fasting-and-abstinence-during-lent

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth