Daily Lenten Reflections - Twenty-Sixth Day - "Bethesda" Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Bethesda!

Jesus asks: “Do you want to be well”?  What a question to ask someone who has been sick for thirty eight years?  Why did he ask that question?

 

This paralyzed man has been at the pool of Bethesda meaning “house of mercy” for a long time wanting to get in to the healing waters available and bubbling all around him. He cannot seem to make use of it. He keeps playing the victim role: ‘I have no one to plunge me into the pool’.

 

He is paralyzed within and without almost given up on himself and lost hope of getting healed. He has been playing that victim role for 38 years.

We see the action of Jesus here. He simply asks him to stand up and go.

 

 Jesus does not give up on his people even when we give up on our own broken, burdensome, troubled selves. Grace is always available bubbling all around us.

 

House of mercy or Bethesda is everywhere but stop playing the victim. The waters of new life is poured over a new baby cleansing it from original sin and then one is invited to receive the healing sacrament of reconciliation.

 

Then you have the Eucharist as the source of nourishment for the rest of your life after having been confirmed in the Spirit.

 

 Approach that fountain of mercy for healing and strength as often as you can. Here at La Salette we hear confessions everyday anywhere from 45 to 90 people.

 

The loaded question is do you want to be well?  It is easy to remain a victim or play blame game and then don’t want to responsible for spiritual growth.

 

Spiritual growth is your responsibility and yours alone.

 

So stand up and plunge yourself into Bethesda the house of mercy.