Christ is risen. Saint Paul, in writing his epistle
to the Hebrews stated this, the word of God is
living and powerful. The word of God is living
and powerful, meaning it is active, effective,
and relevant. As Orthodox Christians, we believe
that Christ's teachings and the ministry of his
miracle healings are not simply preserved for
past historical records. Rather, they are words
of life, words of meaning, words of inspiration.
And the psalmist captures that spirit of Christ's
compassion when he said, as the father pities
his children, so the Lord pities those that fear
him. He remembers that we are dust. You know,
during certain seasons of the year, we say to
one another as we are doing during this paschal
season, Christ is risen. But during other portions
of the year, we also tend to say that Christ
is among us. Which means that He is an ever -present
reality. He is always caring. He is always loving.
He is the source of every good and perfect gift
that comes down from above. And as the gospel
tells us so clearly and so distinctly that Jesus
is the God -man who is the fullness of grace,
mercy and truth. He is the Good Shepherd. He
is the resurrection and the life. who raises
Lazarus from the dead, who gives light to open
the light of those who are blind, and the healer
who restores the paralytic as we have heard in
today's Gospel reading. Let me briefly review
that for you. During our Lord's time and they
say that pool still exists There was in Jerusalem
a well -known pool called Bethesda and at certain
times of the year The water in the pool stirred
and it was at this time of stirring or bubbling
when the waters were known to possess healing
and curative powers. And at this time there was
a rush of people, those infirm, the sick, disabled,
all trying to get into the pool when the water
was stirred. But there was at this time also
We are told by the evangelist John in his fifth
chapter that there was a certain paralytic who
had been by the pool for 38 years. That's a long
time. 38 years hoping to get into the water when
it stirred, but there was no one there to help
him to get in. And that's a sad commentary. And
so he remained there in this hopeless condition
for 38 years. One Sabbath day, however, Jesus
came to the pool and made his way specifically
to the paralytic. And the Lord asked rather an
unusual question. He says, do you want to be
made well? Now, I presume and I imagine that
this paralytic who was there for 38 years said
to himself, why is he asking that question? Of
course I want to be healed. Of course I do but
there's no one to put me into the pool at the
time the water is stirred and You know, the gospel
does not say that Jesus helped him into the pool
But what he does say Is arise Take up your cot
and walk. Something that this paralytic could
do for all of his life. But there was a reason
Jesus asked that question. It was to stimulate
his spiritual thought. Now the scriptures do
not specifically state the following, but certainly
When Jesus looked at him and gave him this advice
He also told him Man stop looking at the pool
as if the water in the pool was the answer to
your physical problems Look at me Look at me
with your with faith Don't waste time waiting
for the so -called right time, right condition,
or right opportunity. Don't let life pass you
by. God is available 24 -7. He is available constantly.
Now is the time, Jesus said, Now is the time
for your healing and your salvation. And so take
up your cock, rise and walk. And the scriptures
tell us, in a glorious way, he got up. The paralytic
stood up, moved with sureness. that he had not
had for 38 years. And we are told something which
sometimes we forget to overlook. And I want to
read the 14th verse of that chapter, chapter
five. Afterward, Jesus Found him in the temple
What a glorious place to be after one is healed
To go to the temple to express thanksgiving to
God for his mercy Now there are other aspects
of this gospel which need to be commented but
because of the constraints of time, it could
be done at another occasion. I'll leave that
for Father Lawrence. One of the implications
of the Gospel and Epistle readings that we hear
throughout this period of Pascha, we find the
word rise. That's a rather expressive word rise
More than anything else it relates and expresses
the power of the Word of God rise In healing
the paralytic Jesus used the word rise and in
the epistle that we heard today from the book
of Acts written by Saint Luke. We are told that
Peter healed Ananias with these words, Ananias,
Jesus heals you, rise, take up your bed and walk.
And with the same words, Jesus Peter used at
Joppa when he was confronted with another infirm
individual, Tabitha. He said, rise. Jesus has
the power to rise, to make us rise. to raise
us up from spiritual lethargy. He has the ability
to make us rise and free us from our insecurities,
to free us above all from our sins. And in that
14th chapter, 14th verse, When he found the paralytic
in the temple he says behold thou art made well
Sin no more Lest a worse thing can come unto
thee So Jesus is saying to you and to me Lay
aside Whatever bothers you your anger, your hostility,
your unforgiveness. Live in peace. Rise. Live
a life of trust in God. Live a life of faith,
knowing that God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son. Rise. Leave behind your
negative feelings. walk into the future with
me. Get up from your cot of unbelief and self
-love and pity. Rise and go your way. Your faith
has made thee well. Christ is risen.