One of the main parts of the Holy Year of Mercy is forgiveness.  It is not common for people to forgive one another.  If it were, we would have less violence, less hatred, less prejudice than we now experience.

In today’s gospel, we hear of the healing of the man who suffered some kind of physical paralysis.  At first, instead of healing the man, Jesus forgives his sins.  This immediately causes opposition from some of the religious leaders.  Apparently, they did not think Jesus had the power to forgive sins.  To confuse the opposition, Jesus then heals the man of his illness.  Thus, he connects forgiveness with healing.

The story begins with Jesus preaching.  That is what his primary mission was:  to declare the kingdom of God is here.

In 2,000 years, that sequence of events is not well understood.

First comes faith that what Jesus said is true; second comes forgiveness;  third comes healing.  In that order.  Leave out one of the elements in the process and nothing happens.

In terms of faith, that is a given.  One either makes a decision to believe or not.  Forgiveness flows from faith.  It is not possible to forgive or be forgiven without faith.  And healing – that is healing of the mind, body, spirit cannot happen without forgiveness.

I have grown weary of the politics of this nation.  That is a great disappointment to me because I have been interested in politics since I was in elementary school.  For a while, I was even in public office.  I should have known better in my idealistic youth.  Politics can be a contact sport.

Whenever money or power or its companion sex can ruin a person’s integrity.  And without integrity, nothing constructive gets done.

So, we have grown adults calling each other names like school children at recess.

If not as a nation, then certainly as individuals, we have the power to forgive one another.  It takes all the drama and entertainment away when we refuse to forgive or, worse, refuse to accept forgiveness.  It’s harder to hate than to love.  That’s one reason hate-filled people are so worn down.  They’re paralyzed with their hatred.  They are not happy and sooner or later they will actually look bad.  People don’t like being around hateful people.  How can one have friends if they are always complaining about everything:  their classes, their teachers, their classmates, their family, and their friends?

We have almost a full year to get this process of restoration in our souls.  It will not only heal us of destructive hatred, but it will also help bring happiness to ourselves and everybody with whom we come into contact.

Don’t take my word for it.  This was a message of Jesus.

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