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As Jesus draws near to this man, he asks him point blank, ˈDo you want to be well?ˉ Seems like a
rhetorical question by Jesus. The answer would appear to be very obvious. However, as we read
the lame man˅s response in John˅s Gospel, we hear the clumsy words of a broken man who fo-
cuses more on the external/environmental reasons why he is not healed. It would appear the lame
man has no idea who Jesus is. Instead of rebuking this man, Jesus simply commands the man,
ˈRise, take up your mat, and walk.ˉ The man immediately rose, took up his mat, and walkedˎhe
was made well. We later find out that the man encounters Jesus again (there are no chance en-
counters with Jesus, if you encounter Jesus there IS a reason). Jesus exhorts the man, ˈLook,
you are well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may happen to you.ˉ Jesus˅ point is
clear.
What if Jesus asked us, ˈDo you want to be well?ˉ How would we respond? Would we fumble with
our words, like the lame man? Would we even know it was Jesus? Common sense would say that
we would obviously respond ˈYESˉ. But, ˈyesˉ, to what kind of wellness? Physical, emotional,
spiritual, or financial? Do we really know what kind of wellness we seek? The lame man was hin-
dered by thirty-eight years of excuses; always blaming someone else for his lack of wellness.
Do we make similar excuses regarding our spiritual wellness? I have no time. I have a lot going
on. I am too busy. I am not ready. I have a lot of stress. I am too ill. I have too many other re-
sponsibilitiesˎThere is no question that life is hard. The lame man can attest to that. However,
the question remains, ˈDo you want to be well?ˉ
May we seek the ˈliving waterˉ of God˅s Word to nurture our souls and heal our ailing hearts.
Prayer
During this day, may I become a more thoughtful person, a more prayerful person, a more gener-
ous and kindly person.
Help me not to be turned in on myself, but to be sensitive and helpful to others.
When night comes, may I look back on this day without regrets;
and may nobody be unhappy because of anything I have said or done or failed to do.
Lord God, bless this day for me and all of us.
Make it a day in which we grow a little more like your Son, and gentle as Mary His Mother.
Amen.
_______
Ramon B. Barreras, Ph.D.
RCIA Dismissal Ministry