The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present to us the continuing care of God for our welfare as the Spirit prompts us to seek physical and spiritual healing.
The reading from the Prophet Isaiah describes the return of the Redeemed to Zion.
* [35:1–10] This chapter contains a number of themes similar to those in Deutero-Isaiah (chaps. 40–55), for example, the blossoming of the wilderness (vv. 1–2; cf. 41:18–19), which is now well-irrigated (v. 7; cf. 43:19–20); sight to the blind (vv. 5–6; cf. 42:7, 16); a highway in the wilderness (v. 8; cf. 41:3); and the return of the redeemed/ransomed to Zion (vv. 9–10; cf. 51:11). Nevertheless, it forms a unit with chap. 34 (see note on 34:1–35:10) and reflects, along with that chapter, themes found in chaps. 1–33. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 35, n.d.)
Psalm 85 is a prayer for the Restoration of God’s Favour
* [Psalm 85] A national lament reminding God of past favors and forgiveness (Ps 85:2–4) and begging for forgiveness and grace now (Ps 85:5–8). A speaker represents the people who wait humbly with open hearts (Ps 85:9–10): God will be active on their behalf (Ps 85:11–13). The situation suggests the conditions of Judea during the early postexilic period, the fifth century B.C.; the thoughts are similar to those of postexilic prophets (Hg 1:5–11; 2:6–9). (Psalms, PSALM 85, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Heals a Paralytic
* [5:20] As for you, your sins are forgiven: literally, “O man, your sins are forgiven you.” The connection between the forgiveness of sins and the cure of the paralytic reflects the belief of first-century Palestine (based on the Old Testament: Ex 20:5; Dt 5:9) that sickness and infirmity are the result of sin, one’s own or that of one’s ancestors (see also Lk 13:2; Jn 5:14; 9:2). (Luke, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Nicky Santos S.J. comments that the call to discipleship is the larger context within which the healing of the paralytic is situated. The faith of the leper and the paralytic (as well as of his friends) is contrasted with that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law who come from all over not because they believe in Jesus but rather because they want to trap him. While Simon Peter follows Jesus because he is awed by the miraculous catch of fish and while the leper is cleansed and the paralytic healed, the disciple is called to have that faith of the leper and the paralytic that preceded their being cleansed and healed. It is the faith that Levi, the tax-collector despised by most, has when he immediately responds to Jesus’ invitation to follow him. He leaves everything behind and follows Jesus.
As we journey along during this season of Advent, it might help to ask ourselves what kind of disciples are we? Do we constantly need tangible proof that God loves us? Are our minds and hearts troubled by doubt and anxiety? Or do we have that deep faith in Jesus that no obstacle is big enough to shake? Today’s reading encourages me to continue to abandon myself to the care of God. At the same time, it also reminds me to be that instrument of God’s care to others; to be like the friends of the paralytic. (Santos, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus heals spiritually and physically,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"When the Savior says to him, 'Man, your sins are forgiven you,' he addresses this to humankind in general. For those who believe in him, being healed of the diseases of the soul, will receive forgiveness of the sins which they formerly committed. He may also mean this: 'I must heal your soul before I heal your body. If this is not done, by obtaining strength to walk, you will only sin more. Even though you have not asked for this, I as God see the maladies of the soul which brought on you this disease.'"(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 12) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 35:1-10 comments that God can answer our spiritual thirst beyond our expectations—even when it seems like we don’t deserve it. That’s because he is a God of mercy and compassion. The same God who came to earth as a child so long ago still wants to come to us each and every day. He still wants to heal us and restore us. He still wants to redeem us from all our sins and teach us how to live in his love.
So if you’re thirsty, go ahead and ask him for a drink—but don’t limit him. Just a small sip might do, but “just enough” is never enough for the Lord. No, he wants to give you nothing less than his own presence within you: his Spirit directing your paths, strengthening you against temptation, and filling you with love for him and for the people around you.
It’s amazing, isn’t it? All because God loves you.
“Holy Spirit, I am thirsting for you. Let your life well up within me.” (Meditation on Isaiah 35:1-10, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler summarizes all the blessings always intended for the people of Israel as Isaiah describes their restoration from exile. Luke raises the connection between sin and health as he describes the healing of the paralytic. Friar Jude reminds us to expect the most loving answer from God to our petitions for healing.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that evolutionary thinking and faith are inherently linked. Evolutionary thinking is the very core concept of faith, where we trust that God alone steers this mysterious universe, where there is clearly much hidden from us and much still before us—and where “eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and the human heart has not conceived, what God has prepared for those who love God” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Evolutionary thinking is contemplative thinking. It leaves the full field of the future in God’s hands and agrees to humbly hold the present with what it only tentatively knows for sure. Evolutionary thinking agrees to knowing and not knowing simultaneously. It sends us on a trajectory, where the ride is itself the destination, and the goal is never clearly in sight. To stay on the ride, to trust the trajectory, to know it is moving, and moving somewhere always better, is just another way to describe faith. We are all in evolution all the time, it seems to me. [2] (Rohr, 2022)
We express gratitude for the care of God that invites us to meet Him in the people and events of our journey.
References
Isaiah, CHAPTER 35. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/35?1
Luke, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/5?17
Meditation on Isaiah 35:1-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/12/05/548780/
Psalms, PSALM 85. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/85?9
Rohr, R. (2022, December 5). An Evolving Faith — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-evolving-faith-2022-12-05/
Santos, N. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/120522.html
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Your God Will Come and Save You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=dec5
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