WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SINS?
WHO HAS POWER TO FORGIVE SINS?
"After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
"When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
"At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
"Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
“Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—
he then said to the paralytic,
“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
"He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men." (Matthew 9: 1 - 8).
Thursday 2nd July 2026 in the 13th Week in Ordinary Time.
How do you reckon with sin?
"She [Mary] will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Mary's Son will be named Jesus (Yeshua, that is Savior) because He will save His people [us] from sin.
In our key Scripture for today, we see Jesus answer the challenge of the lawyers as to His power to forgive sin.
The background of the story is the crippled man who was brought to Jesus by his friends who believe that Jesus can heal him.
Jesus could have commanded the man to stand up and go home. But instead He said:
“Child, your sins are forgiven.” (CF Mark 2: 5).
The doctors of the law who challenged Jesus believe that the authority to forgive sins belongs to God alone. They are correct. But Jesus is God. A truth hidden from their dark and unbelieving minds.
Jesus answered them by this idea:
I will prove to you that as Messiah, I can forgive sins by healing this crippled man.
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
In these words, Jesus revealed to discerning minds that He enjoys the same authority as God.
The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world knows more than anyone the intricate connection between Sin, Suffering and Salvation.
Every Sunday, we repeat in the Creed:
"I believe in the forgiveness of sins."
There is no salvation without the elimination of sin. Sin is the one cancer that blocks the benefits of salvation in our lives.
When Jesus appeared to His disciples in the Upper Room after His Resurrection, He first said to them: "Peace be with you.
" Then He said: "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20: 23).
Thus Jesus gave us the great gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also called Confession or Penance.
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
We focus today on the Precious Blood and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the primary agent who applies the merits of Christ’s Blood to our souls.
The Spirit works seamlessly with the Son's sacrifice to restore the divine order and purpose within creation.
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
“It is in this Blood that He has laid up His blessings for us, as in a storehouse. This is true, not only of spiritual blessings, but of all blessings whatsoever.” (St Peter Faber, SJ).
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
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