Paralysis by Analysis - Fr. Gregory - May 10, 2020

Today in Orthodoxy is the Sunday of the Paralytic. The Gospel lesson comes to us from John 5:1-15. In this Gospel reading we hear of a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years who is healed by Jesus. Father Gregroy contrasts the two different attitudes of facing obstacles that were set before the Myrhh Bearing women from last weeks Gospel and this paralytic who laid on the fringes of healing at the Sheep's Pool. The Myrhh Bearing women were motivaed out of love for Christ and were led by their hearts as they took the initiaive to annoint the body of Jesus, even against all logic for how they would move the stone at the entrance of His Tomb. This man who laid paralyzed for thirty-eight years never once takes any initiative to form a dialogue with anyone for help, but rather sees only the obstacles that prevent his healing. When Jesus asks him if he wants to be healed he replies, "I have no man" to put me in the pool when the water is stirred. Jesus Christ became man in order to save mankind so this paralytic is only thinking in humanistic terms and not The Divine. Perhaps this man and some of us are satisfied with our place in life and in the Church. Father Gregory challenges us to take the initiative in our relationship with Christ and not be like this man who had paralysis by analysis.