Today we celebrate the Sunday of the Paralytic. We all know the story from the Gospel of John 5 verses 1-15. What a great moment of Divine Glory to see a person who was afflicted be healed and stand up, free in his or her physical movements. It is even a greater moment of Divine Glory when we see a person healed from inner paralysis – free at last in his or her spiritual self and energized by the grace of God.
All of us have experienced acting with bitterness, hatred and sometimes despair, because evil sinful passions and darkness take control of our hearts. We are shackled by many bonds of sinful habits and cannot freely relate to others with love, joy, kindness, patience, and a forgiving spirit. The paralytic, no doubt, in his life experienced moments of loneliness, and depression. But the light of God shone upon him and he was freed from the prison of physical and spiritual paralysis. Remember Christ is always there, always caring, always ready to help. We need but turn to the eternal physician of bodies and souls and we receive astounding healing in our lives. This is the message of hope in the Risen Lord: Christ is Risen!
This Sunday also commemorates Mother’s Day, a special day in which our country fondly remembers all the Mothers who have sacrificed so much for their children and grandchildren. We orthodox Christians, at this Paschal Season of the year, celebrate and commemorate the love and devotion of the Most Holy Theotokos for her beloved son, Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead. Therefore let us the faithful give thanks to God for our Mothers, who emulating the Most Holy Theotokos, have continued to watch over us and care for us in our lives.
Christ is Risen!
