Healed for Holiness

Today's readings. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus relieves the suffering of the man at the pool, and directs that healing toward a call to live in a manner consistent with God's desire for him: “You are well; do not sin any more.”

For me, this indicates that Christ’s concern is not only that the man walk again, but that he lives differently. Our faith understands that while bodily relief is a real good, it is not the highest good. The deeper sickness is sin, because sin leaves the soul disordered even when the body is strong. In this light, holiness is not an added demand placed on us after healing, as if Jesus first helps and then burdens. Instead, holiness is what healing is for. Christ restores us not simply so that life becomes easier, but so that we may become whole. Lent reminds us that we are often inclined to ask God to remove what hurts while hoping to remain interiorly unchanged. But the mercy of Christ is greater than relief alone. He does not want only to soothe our pain; he wants to renew our lives.

Today’s Practice – Fasting:

Fast today from harsh speech. Refrain not only from openly sharp or cutting words, but also from the smaller forms of verbal roughness that slip out so easily: impatience, sarcasm, dismissiveness, irritation, or the habit of speaking more forcefully than charity requires. Let this fast be a way of offering your tongue to Christ, asking him to heal not only what you suffer, but the ways you may cause suffering in others.