Today our gospel lesson from Matthew 9:1-8, we recount the story of the healing of the paralytic,whose friends brought him to Jesus on a bed. This gospel lesson brings forth two important lessons for us as Orthodox Christians, the first being that of resourcefulness of faith and the results of faith. The paralytic’s friends were extremely resourceful and caring for them to lift their friend and lower him through the roof to see Jesus. Jesus was so touched by the resourcefulness of this man’s friends that he forgave him his sins and healed him.
The second important point of this gospel lesson is that Christ blesses those who come to Him with eager, resourceful and persistent faith. Jesus says to the paralytic, “take heart, my son,…your sins are forgiven”. Jesus healed the man’s inner paralysis and then blessed him with physical health as well. The Church continues to practice the gifts of healing and forgiveness of sins in its mission the the people of God. We should pray for these gifts with faith and discernment, trusting in God and committing all things to grace.
Today we also celebrate the Holy Relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, one of the most famous monastic saints of the Orthodox Church of Russia. Let us pray before his Holy Relics at our Church for the forgiveness of our sins!
Venerable Seraphim of Sarov pray unto God for Us!
