Gospel
At once the man was healed.
John 5:1-3, 5-16
There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of the sick — blind, lame, and paralysed. One man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and, while I am going, another steps down before me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.’ But he answered them, ‘The man who healed me, that man said to me, “Take up your bed, and walk.”’ They asked him, ‘Who is the man who said to you, “Take up your bed and walk”?’ Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.
Afterwards Jesus found him in the Temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.’ The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
Lord, I’ve been waiting a long time for You to heal certain attitudes in my heart that continue hurting my husband, making it difficult for him to unite fully with me and, consequently, hindering his path to holiness.
I want to support my husband, but I can’t, Lord. I’ve tried repeatedly and unintentionally keep hurting him.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I cannot heal myself.
Applied to Married Life:
Natalie: You corrected me again in front of our friends. Do you enjoy making me look foolish?
Frank: Well, you said we’ve been praying together for four years when it’s only been two. It just came out automatically, but I don’t think it’s such a big deal.
Natalie: It is a big deal because it looks like I’m exaggerating, and you know I’m not good with dates.
Frank: I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional.
Natalie: I know, but I’ve told you many times, and you still keep doing it. You know how insecure I am, and these things really affect me. When will you change?
Frank: I’m sorry, I don’t realise it at the time. But I promise, I’m not trying to hurt you. I’ll try harder not to do it again, and above all, I’m asking the Lord to help me. Lord, have mercy on me.
Mother,
Ask the Lord to have mercy on me. Amen.