Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Ez. 47:1–9, 12 | Ps. 46:2-3, 5-9 | Jn. 5:1-3; 5-16
Jesus comes upon the man who sat by the Pool of Bethsaida for many years. The man has been there waiting for the waters to move and to be the first one into the waters in order to be healed. Jesus asks him. “Do you want to be healed?” The man replies that he does. Jesus takes the time to heal him and invite him to take up his mat and walk. Jesus asks this question because the man must express a desire to be healed. It is possible to become comfortable with what we know. The unknown, despite the freedom it may bring, will not be desired. Thus the man had to want to be changed. We are also invited to be healed of illnesses, guilt, sin, wrong doing. We must want to be healed and to begin new life. Jesus asks us today: “Do you want to be healed.”
Spend time with this Gospel. Be with the paralyzed man. Hear Christ ask you if you want to be healed. Ask for the grace and courage to say: “Yes, I want to be healed?”