Spiritual Healing of the Sacraments – Mar 12 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 12, 2024, where he explores the spiritual significance of Jesus' miracles at the pool of Bethesda, emphasizing baptism and confession as means of healing and forgiveness.

The miracles in the Gospel, according to John, focus on the healing at the pool of Bethesda as a precursor to baptism and confession. The Gospel is structured around signs, with the resurrection of Jesus as the pivotal seventh sign. The miracle at Cana, as the first sign, and the subsequent miracles, including the healing at the pool, which was believed to have been stirred by an angel for healing, are explored for their spiritual significance.

The man ill for 38 years symbolizes the need for spiritual healing, with Jesus offering liberation not just from physical ailment but from sin's consequences. This narrative underscores some illnesses as punishments for sin, a concept elaborated by St. John Chrysostom, emphasizing the soul's priority over the body. The pool's name, Bethesda, meaning "house of mercy," signifies God's mercy and the healing sought by sinners.

The pool and its five porticoes symbolize the Law of Moses and its limitations, contrasted with Jesus' power to heal and forgive sins. This highlights the transition from old Jewish rituals to the sacraments of baptism and confession. These sacraments, represented by the healing waters of baptism and the word-based healing of confession, offer spiritual regeneration and the strength to overcome sin.

Moreover, these events highlight the broader themes of patience, redemption, and the fulfillment of God's promises, as seen in the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land, paralleled by the man's 38-year wait for healing. The water flowing from Christ's pierced side is presented as the ultimate source of sacramental grace, emphasizing the importance of seeking Jesus' healing power through confession and expressing gratitude for His gifts.

00:00 – Introduction and Overview of John's Gospel Miracles
00:46 – Healing Tradition at the Pool and its Symbolism
01:24 – The Interplay Between Sin, Illness, and Healing
02:57 – Preparing for Baptism Through the Pool's Symbolism
03:59 – Jesus as the Fulfillment of Healing and Baptism
05:36 – The Significance of Jesus' Healing Commandments
06:57 – Confession and Healing: A Parallel to Physical Healing
08:23 – The Expansion of Healing Grace Through the Sacraments

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday 4th Week of Lent - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031224.cfm
1st: eze 47:1-9, 12
Resp: psa 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
Gsp: joh 5:1-3, 5-16

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1759

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