"Do you want to be well?"

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill

 for a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be well?" 

The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one

to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up,

while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me."

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk." 

Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

(from John 5:1-16)



This excerpt from today's Gospel reading only tells part of the story.  It goes on to share that when Jesus came upon him later in the temple, he admonishes him, "Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you."  It does make one wonder why he had no one to help put him in the pool. 

Unlike some of the miraculous healings that where Jesus first tells the person, "Your sins are forgiven," in this healing he heals first and then finds him later and admonishes him do not sin any more. 

During the remaining days of Lent, take some time to ponder those areas of your life that are in need of healing.  Are there hurts that weigh you down?  Are there things you expereinced while growing up that need to be forgiven?  Are there perhaps those things that you need to seek forgiveness for having done?