" O wonderful humility!" says St. Jerom, writing on this text; " A decrepit and despicable poor man is called son, when the Scribes and Pharisees would not deign to touch him." Remark how He forgives him his sins, for they were the cause of his infirmity, to teach you, that diseases are often inflicted for hidden sins, and, that when you are sick, you must first seek the health of your soul, and then your corporal health.
THURSDAY.
Cure of the Paralytic. — II.
I. The Scribes and Pharisees immediately began to murmur, "Who is this, who speaketh blasphemies; who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Luke v. 21.) Condole with your Lord for being considered a blasphemer, and be not troubled if at any time you be treated below your deserts. Observe His mildness; He is not moved to indignation, He does not revenge Himself, as He could so easily have done, but sweetly and mildly endeavors to lead them out of their error. "Why," He says to them, " do you think evil in your hearts." (Matt. ix. 4.)
II. In proof of His divinity and His power of forgiving sin, Christ immediately cured the man, and said to him, " Rise up, take thy bed and go into thy house." Your house and your home is heaven; on earth you are only a stranger and a passenger; hasten therefore home, and fix your thoughts, your cares and desires there, where you are to dwell forever. " Man shall go," says the Wise Man, " into the house of his eternity." (Eccles. xii. 5.) " A house is taken as it were forever," writes the pious St. Augustine, " but a nest is built only for a season."
