Our God will come to save us! — Isaiah 35:4

Mass Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10 / Luke 5:17-26 

Rise and Walk 

Last year, a dear friend of ours was badly injured and lost, for the time being, the use of her legs. Something we take for granted, something we call (in a telling phrase) “pedestrian,” is something she longs to do more than anything. It’s in such terrible losses that we discover what an extraordinary thing the ordinary is. Simply getting up and walking over to the sink for a drink of water is revealed as to be a miracle more staggering than the sun dancing at Fatima. 

The paralytic in today’s Gospel understood this. And he understood something else: the words “your sins are forgiven” are even more astounding. When he rose and walked out of there, it was to walk on Isaiah’s highway. For on it the redeemed will walk. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive us all our sins and heal our infirmities!