“Stand in the Light of Truth” by Beth DeCristofaro
Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' Now hear the word of the LORD!" (Amos 7:14-16)
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." (Matthew 9:2-6)
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." (Matthew 9:2-6)
Piety
O God, who through the grace of adoption chose us to be children of light, grant we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. (Collect from the Mass of the Day)
Study
The Sacrament of Confession or Penance is today more often known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It links together an individual’s state of grace or disaffection with that vital value of the Church – unity, oneness in the Lord. The Catholic Catechism explains this link and how important forgiveness and repentance is to the healthy life of a holy community. “Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Penance is God's gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In confession, we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God. ‘In him, we live and move and have our being’" (Acts 17:28). [i]
Jesus understood this on a very basic level, as a man experiencing estrangement from his own traditional community and as God, deeply aware of humanity’s distance from its Creator. He knew that the paralytic was at odds not only with a broken body but also was tormented in his soul. Jesus saw that healing was necessary for his entire being not just his legs. I wonder if Jesus’ words, "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" was spoken with some sardonic humor to the scribes. Did he think of them “can’t you get it yet, you want more magic, you charlatans?” Yet Jesus, even in the face of confrontation continued to model love, mercy, forgiveness, and welcome.
Action
How well do we model Jesus’ forgiving, accepting presence all the while standing in the bright light of truth? In what ways do we deceive ourselves that we, rather than God, are the source of truth or that others are not worthy of being children of light like we are? God chose a simple dresser of sycamores to prophesize to his people Israel.
Take time to listen today to Jesus. Envision him offering healing words to someone who you think is not worthy. Now envision his loving eyes seeking yours out for forgiveness, for reconciliation.
Illustration: Dome in Private Residence, Plamen Petrov, http://plamensart.com/?page_id=656
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