Do Not Remain Paralyzed (Homily)

When we hear of the story of the paralytic, we are reminded that the human body can betray us physically, psychologically, and spiritually. But God also reminds us how vital it is that we not become and remain paralyzed by this.

In other words, even though we all feel broken and unworthy of what God does for us, Christ walked among us and explained that the Holy Spirit would always be with us, so that we could see and know that a path to salvation is possible.

That's partly why we have the Church. God created it so we can encounter him in a specific way: namely in the Eucharist but also through other sacraments.

For example, today we are reminded that while God alone can forgive sins, the sacrament of confession offers a specific method for removing spiritual sickness where the priest stands as an eternal witness of the person's desire to grow spiritually. This is another type of healing sacrifice on the part of God and a desire on the part of each of us to renew our minds, hearts, souls, and spirits.

Today, we also celebrate St. Greogry Palamas. Through him, we better understand how God comes to us in His energies and enables us, through prayer, to know, to heal, to grow, and to love sacrificially.

Let go and let God in, so you don't remain paralyzed.