By Sister Mary Jeanne, O.C.D.
Lent. I have always struggled with the story of the unnamed man in the Gospel who, for 38 years, seemed content to lie on his mat by the pool of Bethesda. Why didn’t he ask those who brought him there every day to move him closer to the water or help him into the pool? Instead, he tells Jesus, “I have no one to put me into the water and when I am on my way someone gets there before me.”
Jesus saw beyond the external malady of this nameless man. It is the only recorded time He asked the question, “Do you want to be healed?” Whatever the cause of the physical illness, the real difficulty seemed to go much deeper. Jesus’ antidote was to give the man something to do – “Take up your mat and walk.” Go home – get rid of that self-pity.
In a talk at World Youth Day in Panama, Pope Francis spoke of a “weariness of hope” that can overtake and paralyze us. Perhaps this explains the behavior of our friend in the Gospel story.
But, what about me? The Church scandals, the confusing political and social scenes, the lack of respect for life, these and so many other concerns can lead me to a paralyzing “weariness of hope” that I can become comfortable with.
Am I content to let anger, resentment, discouragement, bitterness, or a whole gamut of maladies paralyze me? Jesus asks the same question He asked in the Gospel story. Do you want to be healed?
Yes, Jesus, I want to be healed. And Jesus responds: “Pick up your mat.”
May we take to heart the words of Mother Luisita, who wrote, “Live in hope! Pray and Expect!”
Lord Jesus, help me to get rid of my self-pity, to rout out the areas where I blame others and fail to see that it’s not them, it’s me. As I “pick up my mat and walk,” thank You for the healing grace You extend to me.
