From St Matthew 9:1-8
1 Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.
2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes.” 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? 5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He *said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he got up and went home. 8 But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
a. The power of intercession before God made on behalf of others … the paralytic’s friends brought the man to Jesus
Jesus SAW their faith ... by their works faith was made perfect (James 2:22)
b. The power and assurance of the forgiveness of God comes to us in Jesus Christ … comes to all who earnestly seek Him
Jesus has the power to forgive sin ... this forgiveness comes to all who earnestly seek Him
c. The power to forgive sin is given by God to men, through the bishops and priests in Christ’s Church
Jesus forgives sin through the ministry of men ... through His Bishops and Priests, men to whom God has given such authority (John 20)
Has God seen your faith? By those whom you have brought to Jesus?
Pray for those in need … pray for courage to act on their behalf … Bring them to meet Jesus in Word and Sacrament ... never underestimate the power of our intercession on behalf of others.
identify those you know are in need of Jesus' saving graces and pray for them
pray for the opportunity, the occasion and the courage to speak with them, to invite them to Church
Given the great need for Jesus we find in so many others in our day-to-day activities we cannot decide to be undecided … resolve to be irresolute … As we read in St Matthew 9, it is worth a great effort, the laying aside of every impediment, the clear-eyed facing of the need, the noble acceptance of the personal and social risks inseparable from public witness by which we arrest the chaotic drift in the lives and events of those around us … that we are compelled to act on behalf of those paralyzed by their sins … now is the appointed time.
In Holy Communion:
We come to Jesus … our Great Intercessor before God
We come to Jesus in the earnest expectation and assurance of the remission of our sins
We come to Jesus through the ministry of His bishops and priests
This is my Body broken for you, my Blood shed for you for the remission of sin … Amen
JSH+