The Gospel reading for this middle Sunday of Pascha takes us to the pool of Bethesda, where Jesus is seen walking amongst those who are sick with various illnesses, waiting to be healed. They are all waiting for the water to be stirred up, and for a miracle to occur to relieve them of their troubles. Christ walks among those who are suffering and in pain, and sets his eyes on the paralytic, who seems to be more needy then all of the rest. He then asks that man a question a very peculiar question:
“Do you want to be healed?”
The answer of this man, who had been paralyzed for 38 years…who had laid there hoping and praying that someone would have compassion on him…was “I have no man to help me…”.
Our Lord, in His compassion towards this man, told Him: “take up your bed and walk.” Later, after He was healed, Christ gave a warning to Him saying “You have been made well…go and sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
I mentioned this past week at our class on the biblical odes, how when we read from the Holy Scripture is not meant to be read as a “feel good” story that happened long ago. It isn’t written as a historical account for scholars to dissect dates or political movements. It wasn’t written as a justification for war in the Middle East. It was written for us to enter into it! We discover the depth of scripture by placing ourselves within its pages and within its Holy Words. Christ doesn’t speak to and heal people 2,000 years ago…He’s talking and healing us directly right now in the year 2026!
This is how the worship of the Church has understood the scriptures and the feast days for 2,000 years! On Christmas Day, we sing and say “Today, the Virgin gives birth to the transcendent One…”. Right now, in this paschal season, we say “Christ is risen” not, “Christ was risen!” In that same manner, as we enter into the feasts, we also enter the scriptures themselves, and watch as they take on an entirely different meaning for our own spiritual lives.
Today, Christ comes to us, who are sitting today in the Church, in the hospital for sinners, and asks us that same question: “Do you (insert your name here) want to be made well?”
What is our response to Christ, as he asks us this question today?
“Yes, Lord, but I don’t think I can find healing from you. I’d rather find it elsewhere…perhaps in the corner bar…maybe at the local smoke shop...I’ll relieve my symptoms that way.”
This is the response of those who try to find healing anywhere else besides Christ…and the world is indeed full of lies of how you can make yourself feel better. These lies lead to nothing but fog and despair…a life of desolation, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Being deceived by that lie will lead us to absolute destruction.
Perhaps another more popular response, and even a more dangerous one that the first, is when our Lord asks us: “Do you want to be made well?”
We respond: “From what? I’m fine…and have no paralysis”
This is another lie we often tell ourselves…in that we either don’t want to admit, or have simply ignored our paralysis. We might compare ourselves to others and say to ourselves “at least I’m not as paralyzed as that person over there”. We continue on as if things are ok…and we ultimately leave our Lord hanging with His arm outstretched to us…moving onto something else.
Dear ones, we won’t find healing or fulfillment in political parties, substances, our hobbies…indeed we won’t find it anywhere in the world. The only true and everlasting cure for us in this life is found in the outstretched arms of Christ. It is found where we are sitting today, in the kingdom of heaven on earth, where there is no sickness, sorrow, or sighing…where death has been destroyed, and we all find ourselves in the loving embrace of Christ Himself.
Perhaps this is why our Orthodox communities have seen such an uptick in visitors, inquirers, and catechumens, especially from those coming from no background in faith. They enter into the Church and experience a holiness and a presence that we, who have been in this warm embrace for a while, often to take for granted…and perhaps that’s something that we should reflect on…and truly be inspired by…as we welcome more people into our parish family.
Our Lord asks us today: “Do you (insert names here) want to be made well?” Let us prayerfully and carefully weigh our responses to Him, showing Christ our willingness to reach out and grasp His outstretched hand, so that He can pull us up to heights that the fallen world could only dream of reaching.