Beloved, 

Yesterday we had the privilege of hearing my brother-in-law and friend—Fr John Miller—preach about the Paralytic that Jesus healed in the Gospel of John Ch 5.

In this gospel the paralytic is lying at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years and Jesus approaches the man and asks if he desires to be made well.

Fr John pointed out that the encounter that this man has with Christ is not just a one time event in his life but rather an encounter that reveals the presence of Christ in the past and the hope for His presence in the future.

The evidence that Fr John pointed to that demonstrated our Lord's presence in the life of this man was the controlled and patient response that the man gives when Jesus asks if he wants to made well. The paralytic responds—Sir, I have no man to put me in the water. How can a person answer with such patience if this virtue had not been formed in him through our Lord Jesus strengthening him over those 38 years!—Christ was with him in the past...

Next, there is of course the healing that the Lord offers the man in the present moment—the healing of his paralysis with only a word from our Lord. This healing clearly points to an encounter with Christ and reinforces the understanding that an encounter with our Lord can be effectual for our own healing if we can and are willing to receive it.—Christ with him in the present...

Finally, Fr John pointed to our Lord's words to the man in the temple after He had healed the man—Go and sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you. This command that our Lord gives to sin no more presupposes that our Lord will be there with the man continuing to strengthen him through the trials he faces with his new life.—Christ with him in the future...

These words from Fr John help us to remember that our Lord has been with us in the past, is with us now and will be with us in the future. It is up to us to recognize and seek His help that comes in all kinds of ways to each of us. 

May our Lord strengthen each of us to continue to seek Him and to rejoice in and at His presence and help in our lives. 

I pray for a blessed week for each of you filled with the acknowledgment and presence of Christ in your lives. 

with Love in our risen Lord,

Fr John