Reflections of a beloved son

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.’”   Matthew 9:2   We are told that “when Jesus saw THEIR faith” was when the paralytic was healed. Jesus was so moved by the people and their love for this friend and brother of theirs that He healed him. Love, my friends, bring healing. Not the kind of love that seeks pleasures or self-interest, but the kind of love that wants only the good for another. The kind of love the moves us to sacrifice our own comforts and wants for the sake of another, even to the point of sacrificing our own lives.   That is the kind of love that those friends had when the put aside their own wants and struggled to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus.   We need one another. Intercessory prayer is crucial. We are not alone on this journey of faith. Sometimes when we are paralyzed by our sinfulness and shame, we must ask others to help bring us to Christ. We can not do this alo...

“‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.’ He said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’”   Matthew 8:6-7 Sometimes people ask me “Does prayer work?” I always say “Yes, it does.” Prayer matters. Prayer is our relationship with God and anything and everything we say to Him and bring to Him matters. We often hear people say “pray for me” or “pray for me mother” or something similar. There’s something inside our hearts that know that it means something when we ask others to pray for us.   In essence we are really asking to be a part of a relationship, a loving relationship together with God. The Roman centurion went to Jesus when his servant was dying. Though he was not a professed believer he believed in the healing power of Christ. How did he know? He must have asked around and heard people talking about Jesus. But it was time for him to find out for himself. When he brought his plea and request before the Lord, Jesus simply said “I will go and he...

Do you believe?   I don't mean do you believe on the surface or if you pay lip service when you are asked that question.  I mean do you actually believe ?  Has a friend or family member ever approached you and asked, " Do you believe me ?"  This question has a twofold meaning: 1, it is an affirmation of their trust and belief in you , and 2, it is an invitation to trust and believe in them. God asks you today , " Do you believe me?  Not just in me, but do you believe me? "  Do you believe that you are loved from all eternity?  Do you believe that the Father listens to you and hears your prayers?  Do you believe? In today's Gospel reading ( Jn. 4:43-54 ), a royal official approached Jesus and asked for a healing for his sick son.  "Sir, come down before my child dies," he said.  Jesus said in reply, "You may go; your son will live."  Then we are told: "The man believed what Jesus said to him and left." Think about this: a ...