HOMILY OF THURSDAY 13TH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
HOMILY OF THURSDAY 13TH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: THE WHOLENESS OF JESUS—PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALING
BY: Fr. Obinna Ezeaputa
Amos 7:10-17, Ps. 19:8-11, Matthew 9:1-8
In today’s gospel reading (Matthew 9:1–8), Jesus heals a paralyzed man who his friends bring to him. Upon observing the man’s faith, Jesus proclaims, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). This caused the Pharisees to question his authority to forgive sins, but Jesus proved his power by healing the man physically, saying, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home” (Matthew 9:6). The crowd was amazed and praised God for giving such authority to men (Matthew 9:8).
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Hans Urs von Balthasar insightfully notes that the healing of the paralytic reveals two essential dimensions of salvation. Firstly, it highlights the intrinsic connection between physical and spiritual healing, illustrating that “the wholeness that Jesus brings is not only spiritual, but also physical” (Theo-Drama, vol. 3, 1990, p. 235).
Secondly, the power of Jesus to forgive sins is what truly sets us free, underscoring the primacy of spiritual liberation in Christ’s mission. As Jesus declares to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2), he inaugurates a new creation, where the depths of human brokenness are transformed by divine mercy (Balthasar, p. 237).
Balthasar adds, “Jesus’ forgiveness is not just a moral pardon, but a real, ontological transformation of the sinner” (Theo-Drama, p. 237). This means that the forgiveness that Jesus offers has the power to transform us at the very core of our being and restore us to our true dignity as children of God.
Let us approach Jesus with faith and courage, like the paralyzed man and his friends, and ask for his healing and forgiveness. May we experience the transformative power of his mercy, which sets us free from the depths of human brokenness and restores us to our true dignity as children of God.
And may we, like the crowd, praise God for the gift of Jesus, who has the authority to forgive sins and heal our bodies and souls. Amen.
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