"See, you have been made well. Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you." - Jesus, to the man he had healed (John 5:14b)
Dear Friends in Christ -
Jesus rarely comes off as peevish as he seems in this quote from today's Gospel lesson (John 5:1-18), but Jesus is completely fed up with this guy who keeps blaming others for everything that happens to him.
You might know someone like that . . . heck, some days you might BE someone like that: someone who complains about the actions of others rather than doing what you can to take responsibility for yourself, to reach out to ask for the help you need.
Jesus takes us up on even our smallest movement in this direction. Though the guy in today's Gospel lesson doesn't call out to Jesus for healing or even acknowledge that's what he really wants, Jesus takes his presence near the pool to be the tiny crack of openness required to start the man's healing process. While the guy's body is healed instantly, it takes longer for his heart to change. And Jesus sticks by him each step of the way, even prodding him firmly along when necessary.
In these days of Lent, may you have the courage to stop blaming others, to receive Jesus gift of healing and live into it, and to give Him all the praise, so that He can make you well.
Faithfully,
Janet+
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