Rise and Walk

If we saw a man like in today’s Gospel who couldn’t walk or even move we would probably recognize that this person was in a very serious and sad condition. When Jesus encounters this man in the Gospel, he too recognizes a serious illness that needs healing, but not the one that we would automatically think of. Jesus looks right past the fact that the man is physically paralyzed, and instead sees that, even more seriously, he is spiritually paralyzed. The man is stuck in sin.

Jesus shows us that spiritual sickness is far more serious than any physical sickness. As we begin Lent this week, are there ways in which we are spiritually paralyzed?  Let’s all pray that this Lent we can make a good confession, take on some spiritual discipline, and hear those beautiful words of Jesus, “Your sins are forgiven…rise and walk.”