Reflections of a beloved son

Are you tired?   Are you tired of trying to hold everything together?  Are you tired of trying to put on a brave face?  Are you tired of trying?  Are you tired of feeling like you are doing everything alone?  God is saying to you, " You are not alone; I am with you ."  He is with you, sitting with you, and asking you, " Do you want to be well? " In today's Gospel reading , there is a man lying on the floor who is unable to walk, and Jesus asks him that question.  The man did not say "yes" or "no," but rather did what I often do - try to avoid giving a straight answer, and making excuses.  The man said that no one helped him into the pool.  What are my excuses ?  Do I allow excuses to keep me from getting closer to the Father?  Do I allow excuses to keep me from getting closer to others?  Do I make excuses instead of reaching out? Oftentimes when we see someone who we love and care for struggling, we wish we could help them....

" I forgive you. " These three words can be freeing and liberating if said with conviction and deep belief.  However these same three words can sometimes be used emptily.  What do these three words really mean? To forgive can mean "I know what you did was wrong.  It hurt me deeply.  But I also know you are not perfect.  You are human. I am human, and I am imperfect.  What you did was wrong, but I have also done things that were wrong.  Perhaps you did not do it with the intention of hurting me.  Maybe there are things unsaid that needs to be said.  Maybe there was miscommunication.  But all I know is that I am hurt.  I am hurt but I can still see the goodness inside of you.  I know you are good because God created you.  Moreover, if God can forgive me, what is holding me back from forgiving you?  I forgive you because I am forever grateful to God for forgiving me and for loving me ." Forgiveness is the acknowled...