KNOWING AND EXPERIENCING GOD THROUGH JESUS’ DEEDS!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Weekday

By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.

Matthew 9: 1 - 8

1          And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.

2          And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."

3          And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."

4          But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?

5          For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk'?

6          But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home."

7          And he rose and went home.

8          When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:

A BLESSED THURSDAY TO ALL!

Oftentimes our recognition of the “credibility” of the proficiency or expertise of a person will depend on the person’s “record” as to professional degree/s (certificate, baccalaureate, masteral or doctoral) attained. We often consider credible and expert on something those with a doctoral degree than those with a baccalaureate’s degree, or even with those with a masteral’s degree. This kind of recognition is mainly based on the professional and academic attainment of a person. However, this kind of attainment does not always translate to efficiency and competence in the level of performance. At the practical and performance level, there are those who only have attained a masteral’s degree but performed well and show more competence and expertise than those with a doctoral degree.

In the Gospel today, we have a case wherein Jesus’ credibility is belittled, if not totally ignored or nullified, because he is regarded to be ordinary. Their recognition and judgment of Jesus committing a blasphemy is an obvious declaration of their rejection, dismissal and denunciation of what Jesus have done. For the Scribes, Jesus has no authority and credibility to FORGIVE sins. For them God has the sole authority to forgive. For them Jesus does not have the credentials that belong to God alone. They are really blind to see and comprehend the fullness of Jesus’ identity. In fact, in yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus asked his disciples “who do men say that the Son of man is?” and also asked them directly “But who do you say that I am?” The Scribes unfortunately do not know who Jesus is. After yesterday’s Gospel declaration as to who Jesus is by the confession of Peter about Jesus as the CHRIST, the SON of the LIVING GOD, today’s Gospel presents Jesus manifesting or revealing in ACTION who he really is.

Interestingly, Jesus considers what the Scribes have in their minds to be evil. He asked them, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?” This question could mean to indicate that to be UNFORGIVING is an EVIL act to do. This is so because it goes contrary to the very nature of God who is forgiving. When Jesus forgives the sin of the paralytic, Jesus was also manifesting his true nature that the Scribes are blind to recognize. Jesus manifests concretely by his action his IDENTITY and CREDENTIAL so for the witnesses to recognize his full stature as God. Jesus provides substantiation and verification of Peter’s confession by DOING something that belongs to GOD and claims the AUTHORITY that belongs to God. Jesus HEALS the paralytic and FORGIVES his sin. This is a revelation of Jesus’ IDENTITY and MISSION. That he is really the IMMANUEL, the GOD who is WITH US to SAVE us. He is JESUS, which means, the GOD who SAVES! By his deeds, people come to have an experience and knowledge of God in Jesus. In Jesus we have the FULLNESS of God’s revelation of Himself.

Created in the image and likeness of God, however, we too are summoned by Jesus to also FORGIVE those who wronged us. Our being “unforgiving” makes us spiritually crippled in dealing with others with love and compassion. To become unforgiving paralizes us from doing what is good to those who have done wrong against us. May Jesus' HEALING power cure our hearts full of bitterness and hatred for us to become charitable in forgiving others of their misdeeds and transgressions against us. Forgiving others will be our credential in having the confidence to ask God to forgive us from all of our transgressions.