Gospel: John 5:1-16
After this, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now, by the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, there is a pool (called Bethzatha in Hebrew) surrounded by five galleries. In these galleries lay a multitude of sick people: blind, lame and paralyzed. (All were waiting for the water to move, for at times an angel of the Lord would descend into the pool and stir up the water; and the first person to enter the pool, after this movement of the water, would be healed of whatever disease that he had.) There was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him, and because he knew how long this man had been lying there, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” And the sick man answered, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; so while I am still on my way, another steps down before me.”
Jesus then said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk!” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his mat and walked. Now that day happened to be the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had just been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and the law doesn’t allow you to carry your mat.” He answered them, “The one who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk!’” They asked him, “Who is the one who said to you: Take up your mat and walk?” But the sick man had no idea who it was who had cured him, for Jesus had slipped away among the crowd that filled the place. Afterward Jesus met him in the temple court and told him, “Now you are well; don’t sin again, lest something worse happen to you.” And the man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. So the Jews persecuted Jesus because he performed healings like that on the Sabbath.
Reflection:
Letting go of our past.
The Gospel presents a decisive moment of healing. The question, Do you want to be healed?” encourages us to consider our wishes for healing, not only for our bodies but also our spirits and situations. The man at the pool of Bethesda had been waiting for many years, stuck in a cycle of hope and disappointment. This reflects many of our experiences where we feel trapped in challenging situations.
What stands out is how quickly Jesus acts and provides healing. This makes us think about how often we hesitate to ask for help or make changes. The key issue is our willingness to accept change, step into the unknown, and understand that healing often means letting go of our past.
We can show this readiness for change by reaching out to a friend who needs support or taking the first step toward a goal. We can help ourselves heal. The Gospel teaches us that the journey to becoming whole starts with a simple yet powerful question: “Do you want to be healed?” This question encourages us to respond with bravery and openness, creating opportunities for renewal in our daily lives.
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