Paralytic 2012 - Fr. Michael Margitich

Christ is risen. Saint Paul, in writing his epistle

to the Hebrews stated this, the word of God is

living and powerful. The word of God is living

and powerful, meaning it is active, effective,

and relevant. As Orthodox Christians, we believe

that Christ's teachings and the ministry of his

miracle healings are not simply preserved for

past historical records. Rather, they are words

of life, words of meaning, words of inspiration.

And the psalmist captures that spirit of Christ's

compassion when he said, as the father pities

his children, so the Lord pities those that fear

him. He remembers that we are dust. You know,

during certain seasons of the year, we say to

one another as we are doing during this paschal

season, Christ is risen. But during other portions

of the year, we also tend to say that Christ

is among us. Which means that He is an ever -present

reality. He is always caring. He is always loving.

He is the source of every good and perfect gift

that comes down from above. And as the gospel

tells us so clearly and so distinctly that Jesus

is the God -man who is the fullness of grace,

mercy and truth. He is the Good Shepherd. He

is the resurrection and the life. who raises

Lazarus from the dead, who gives light to open

the light of those who are blind, and the healer

who restores the paralytic as we have heard in

today's Gospel reading. Let me briefly review

that for you. During our Lord's time and they

say that pool still exists There was in Jerusalem

a well -known pool called Bethesda and at certain

times of the year The water in the pool stirred

and it was at this time of stirring or bubbling

when the waters were known to possess healing

and curative powers. And at this time there was

a rush of people, those infirm, the sick, disabled,

all trying to get into the pool when the water

was stirred. But there was at this time also

We are told by the evangelist John in his fifth

chapter that there was a certain paralytic who

had been by the pool for 38 years. That's a long

time. 38 years hoping to get into the water when

it stirred, but there was no one there to help

him to get in. And that's a sad commentary. And

so he remained there in this hopeless condition

for 38 years. One Sabbath day, however, Jesus

came to the pool and made his way specifically

to the paralytic. And the Lord asked rather an

unusual question. He says, do you want to be

made well? Now, I presume and I imagine that

this paralytic who was there for 38 years said

to himself, why is he asking that question? Of

course I want to be healed. Of course I do but

there's no one to put me into the pool at the

time the water is stirred and You know, the gospel

does not say that Jesus helped him into the pool

But what he does say Is arise Take up your cot

and walk. Something that this paralytic could

do for all of his life. But there was a reason

Jesus asked that question. It was to stimulate

his spiritual thought. Now the scriptures do

not specifically state the following, but certainly

When Jesus looked at him and gave him this advice

He also told him Man stop looking at the pool

as if the water in the pool was the answer to

your physical problems Look at me Look at me

with your with faith Don't waste time waiting

for the so -called right time, right condition,

or right opportunity. Don't let life pass you

by. God is available 24 -7. He is available constantly.

Now is the time, Jesus said, Now is the time

for your healing and your salvation. And so take

up your cock, rise and walk. And the scriptures

tell us, in a glorious way, he got up. The paralytic

stood up, moved with sureness. that he had not

had for 38 years. And we are told something which

sometimes we forget to overlook. And I want to

read the 14th verse of that chapter, chapter

five. Afterward, Jesus Found him in the temple

What a glorious place to be after one is healed

To go to the temple to express thanksgiving to

God for his mercy Now there are other aspects

of this gospel which need to be commented but

because of the constraints of time, it could

be done at another occasion. I'll leave that

for Father Lawrence. One of the implications

of the Gospel and Epistle readings that we hear

throughout this period of Pascha, we find the

word rise. That's a rather expressive word rise

More than anything else it relates and expresses

the power of the Word of God rise In healing

the paralytic Jesus used the word rise and in

the epistle that we heard today from the book

of Acts written by Saint Luke. We are told that

Peter healed Ananias with these words, Ananias,

Jesus heals you, rise, take up your bed and walk.

And with the same words, Jesus Peter used at

Joppa when he was confronted with another infirm

individual, Tabitha. He said, rise. Jesus has

the power to rise, to make us rise. to raise

us up from spiritual lethargy. He has the ability

to make us rise and free us from our insecurities,

to free us above all from our sins. And in that

14th chapter, 14th verse, When he found the paralytic

in the temple he says behold thou art made well

Sin no more Lest a worse thing can come unto

thee So Jesus is saying to you and to me Lay

aside Whatever bothers you your anger, your hostility,

your unforgiveness. Live in peace. Rise. Live

a life of trust in God. Live a life of faith,

knowing that God so loved the world that He gave

His only begotten Son. Rise. Leave behind your

negative feelings. walk into the future with

me. Get up from your cot of unbelief and self

-love and pity. Rise and go your way. Your faith

has made thee well. Christ is risen.