Today's Mass readings include the Gospel of John, where the story is told of Jesus healing an ill man, and instructing him to get up and take his pallet with him. It is the Sabbath, and Jesus' persecutors are scandalized that he would instruct the man to do so on the Sabbath.
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Never mind that the man has been lying around for thirty eight years. Like he hasn't rested sufficiently to make up for 266 Sabbath days. At any rate, the nay-sayers are outraged and added this to their list of reasons why they should persecute Jesus.
This Gospel, I recognize, is underlining the persecution of Christ and what led up to that. It shows also the legalism of the time and how he sought to increase understanding of the law, that is was in place to serve and instruct the people, not to make it cause for judgement of others.
There are probably some other theological analogies that could be made that would escape my limited and literal ability to understand.
But here is the line that popped out at me.
"Do you want to be healed?"
Jesus says to the man. Not, "I will heal you."
Not, "You must be healed."
Not, "Be healed or be damned."
A simple and straightforward invitation, "Do you want to be healed?"
One man's very personal little Magnificat. An opportunity to accept Jesus' hand and be healed.
Be loved.
By his own choice, in his own time.
It is always an invitation. We walk in faith not because we are afraid, not because we are brainwashed, not because we are blind. We walk because we have been invited.
And we said yes. And we are healed. And we are still being healed.
