The Fourth Week- “Mesagu=መፃጉዕ”: Infirmity, the paralytic (John 5:1-15)
The fourth week of Great Lent is called Metsagu meaning infirmity. In our church each Sunday carries a spiritual theme, which helps us to engage in spiritual dialogue with God through the incarnate, crucified and risen Christ.
The fourth week of Great lent teaches us that Christ came to this world not only to preach and teach concerning the kingdom of God but to heal the sick, infirm and those possessed with mental and spiritual diseases. Our Lord teaches us that those possessed with mental and spiritual illnesses are caused by sin. The power of forgiveness is available by faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit through his church and the sacrament of penance.
Therefore it is named Mestagu because it has been dedicated to the Lord's Acts of HEALING. Thus, passages and songs would, as of the eve, focus on His act of healing, the wounded, the leper, etc. Acts of His chose who have also performed such healing service in line with His blessing will also be remembered. Following are some of verses frequently read and /or sung:Mat,8:2-34, Mat ,14:14-36, Mat,10:1-10 Luke 18 John 9 : 1-40
MISBAK of THE DAY
The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed. I said, "Lord, be merciful to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You. " Ps 41:1-3
Lesson I- Metsague- The paralytic man.
In this lesson there are many thing that we could learn. First let's talk about things that paralyzed our mind, body and spirit.
Nowadays, most people are looking for satisfaction by doing something/being someone-:- Getting high, looking cool; and being popular is always the end game!. This kind of people, they think having satisfaction through physical experience is their unique new motto - hence all we think, talk and dream about is something that paralyzed our life and our future.
As a first generation Eritrean American Youth grown up here have lot of opportunity that our parents dare to wish. Sometimes we forget the struggle our parents passed through to be in the place where we are. We have been given a privilege with a lot of responsibilities. However this is a simple lesson we have difficulty to learn or understand it. Some of us drink or smoke excessively to numb the pain of facing the reality and others try to hide by having “fun” or filling their emptiness with temporary pleasure [we paralyze ourselves and become victim of our wish]. The questions is what is going to happen when the laughter stops and reality comes!? then WHAT!? What is going to happen when you are a baby mother or father with no job or education to care for the baby, when you felt stuck while you are being player and your friends are all gone for better. Recently there was a person who tried to have “pleasure” paralyzed by his/her choice and dream and tried drug. After a while that person finds out s/he was HIV/HCV carrier. Life changing moments! Now all dreams has come to halt!? Now Every future plan has to be reroute according to the person you become. People are too much concerned about having fun now and not worrying about paying it later. The paralytic man sinned and paid 38 of his year paying for his deed? The reality is that there is going to be a price to pay for the choices that a person makes. For example, if a teen or a freshman college student get pregnant on a party (Mind you: the behavior is not just a mistake, it is a choice too), how would her life would look like afterward? All pleasure seeking behavior that paralyzed our life comes at a cost. If you choose to charge all the pleasure you make without making sure you have the cash to cover them, then the consequence follow you for the rest of your life. It is like you smoke hookah/shisha now, and later you would be going everywhere hugging a tank of oxygen with a tube in your both nostrils for the rest of your life [ you pay the price, after you enjoy it].
In this lesson we have learned that the paralyzed man that we read in the bible chose to do Sin that paralyzed him for 38 years. What about us, what are our choices, way of life leading? To the prison, being paralyzed or to freedom and happiness? Today the story teaches us that Christ, Our God and Lord has offered us a choice that requires our response. He is asking “do you want to be healed?”. Healed from false pleasure, dream, stress and disappointment. Everything that we do has a consequence that shapes and influence our life for the rest of life. There is no other choice - either live with Him or else- What would it be?
Glory to be God
and to His Virgin Mother
and to the Glorious Cross
Amen.
Dn. Medhanie
