In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
Christ is risen!
I am weak and infirm, though I refuse to accept it, and I have not the strength to care for myself, let alone those around me. My body lies paralysed through sin and I live on the charity of those walking past. And seeing my salvation in the nearby pool, I cannot enter it and receive healing before another steps in. I am, despite myself, in reality broken and alone.
And the Stranger stands before me: I know not who he is but he knows me. Really knows me. And he says to me, “Do you want to be healed?” And if I am willing to accept my infirmity, on a superficial level I answer in my head, “Yes,” but I must question if this is true. Do I really want to be healed? Because to be healed means I can no longer make excuses for failing to act, I can no longer expect passers-by to give me charity, I must take responsibility for myself and for others, I would now be indebted to this man. To be healed changes my life and should have an effect on those around me too.
All my life I have paid lip service to being made whole but now it is before me do I really want it? Or am I content with the meagre existence I have forged for myself? And yet the words of the Stranger remain ringing in my ears as he stands before me and for the first time in a long time I am looked upon as a person rather than as the recipient of charity, “Do you want to be healed?”
And the Stranger stands before you and he says to you, “Do you want to be healed?” And first we must accept that we are infirm, accept that we need another, accept that we are not autonomous and must rely on others. And then we are invited by the Church to receive Christ’s healing. And it will require work on our part, we must be willing to stand and take up our bed despite the scorn of those around us who claim they understand the ways of God, despite the ridicule of society, despite the burden it places upon us.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Church offers to each of us Christ’s healing—we must, however, be willing to accept it along with all its consequences. For the Christian life requires work from us, sacrifice, giving priority to others before ourselves. And it is a constant process, we are called to constant healing from our sin, from our wickedness, as we progress towards God. Let us, therefore, accept today this healing offered and turn once again to the living God who heals us and brings us into his Kingdom.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
To our risen Saviour Jesus Christ be all glory, honour and dominion, together with his Unoriginate Father and the All-holy, Good and Life-giving Spirit. Amen.
In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, rise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
— Acts 9:32–42
At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk.’ “They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.
— John 5:1–15