The evangelist Matthew takes pains to show us the great power which Jesus had: over sickness, over nature, over demons, and, as depicted in today’s Gospel, over sin. It was such a power that incited controversy, disbelief and envy on the part of some scribes. Jesus in turn confronts them head-on, by showing them even more of such power (as it were): He cured a paralytic right in front of their eyes.
In the first reading, meanwhile, we also have a display of God’s power. The well-known passage of the testing of Abraham over his son Isaac results in a confirmation of God being absolutely in command of everything. And since Abraham passed the test with flying colors, he is abundantly rewarded by a show of generous power on the part of God: “Because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing — all this because you obeyed my command.”
As we know by now, God’s power surely isn’t the power of a warlord governor or that of a greedy capitalist. Rather, it is a dominance on the part of the Omnipotent God. But paradoxically, such power of God owes its force in part to the subject of that power: that is, the humble submission of the human person to it. In the case of the first reading, it is Abraham’s heroic obedience and faith; in the Gospel, it is the paralytic’s openness and docility (in contrast with the cynicism of the scribes).
Quite simply, we just have to submit ourselves to such a powerful God. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
Reflection Question:
How much has the power of God revealed itself in your life?
Almighty God, may I always submit to Your power in my life. Amen.
St. Lucina, pray for us.
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