He picked up his mat

He picked up his mat

“Do you want to be well again? ….’Get up, pick up your sleeping-mat and walk.’  The man was cured at once, and he picked up his mat and walked away.”  (John 5: 7 – 9)

Throughout this incidence, nothing was said of the man’s faith.  Jesus said to the man: “Get up, pick up your sleeping-mat and walk.”  The man did what Jesus told him.  “Do whatever he tells you.”  (John 2:4).  In John 4: 50 – 51), in the incident of the court official whose boy was healed, we see the two stages of faith:  1. The court official believed what Jesus said to him.  2.  He acted.  He left for home full of expectation.  In our scripture today, we see the two stages of faith compressed into one:  The lame man did what Jesus told him:  “He picked up his mat and walked away.”  There was no time for rationalizations.

Everyday, I enjoy promptings and inspirations from the Holy Spirit.  I act without considering the source.  Sometimes I recognize the source at the time and give thanks.  

Did Christ give the lame man faith before he healed him?  This is possible.  I had felt a strong faith at the beginning of many big projects I had undertaken.  

Lord Jesus, I take this opportunity to thank you for your numerous inspirations to me everyday.  Make me more sensitive to your many voices.  Grant me the gift of discernment of spirit.  Mary, mother, help me to always “do whatever he tell me.”