The Key

...know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

1 [a]He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. 2 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.” 3 At that, some of the scribes[b] said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? 5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 [c]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.” 7 He rose and went home. 8 [d]When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.-Matthew9:1-8

The Gospel clearly demonstrates Jesus' power to heal and forgive sins. During His time, it is very rare for somebody to show such kind of authority - healing, driving demons away, teaching with authority, mastery over forces of nature, and so on. Today, it is all the more rare to see somebody in his/her full potential. "When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings." We may not have the same kind of gifts that were once blessed to all followers, believers, apostles and disciples of Jesus in the past, but we do have 'gifts' from God for sure. These gifts await to be unlocked. Perhaps it is not much, but the little that we have is worth putting to use for the greater glory of God. How do we unlock something that we do not know? The key is God, the key is with God. We need only to ask and believe.

Image courtesy: dreamstime

Responsible Stewards!

"With great power comes great responsibility. - Uncle Ben (Spiderman)

39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.-Luke12:39-48

Jesus is encouraging all of us to be ready. This readiness is a day-to-day process. We do not prepare on the day we are attacked, broken into or when death is near. Rather, we treat each day as if today Jesus will come or death will knock. Jesus is not threatening us, but encouraging us to be prepared. This preparation has nothing to do with settling debts, paying our bills, entrusting our pets to our neighbors, making a will and so forth. This preparation is not even something strenuous at all, because this can be done in whatever acts we do in the name of charity and love.

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." (James4:17). The problem with the servant is that he knows the master's will, but he did not listen at all or did what he had to do. Yes, we all have that kind of experience.

We know in our hearts that what we are doing is wrong, yet we still did it. We know that what we do will ruin us, yet we still did it. Talk about doing what we don't want to do! Because we failed to listen to our hearts - where Jesus dwells - we reap what we have sown. Some go to jail, others lose their loved ones, marriages fail, communities closed their doors on us and so forth. But, Jesus' death and resurrection gave us new life and new hope. We can still change. We can even save what seems to be lost. We can improve our lives. We can be better. Nothing is impossible with God. He pours upon us grace upon grace, and all we need to do is simply to open up and accept it.

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." We are talented individuals, creative, intelligent and so much more. Our giftedness should not be kept hidden within us but ought to be shared to others "like a lamp that throws light in a darkened room." Jesus is encouraging us to be unafraid. He encourages us to share our "gifts" as service to others in the name of love. And Love is God.

Image courtesy: St. Takla Org.; unknown artists