It seems only appropriate to start with an Irish blessing:
“May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, And nothing but happiness come through your door.”
This blessing can certainly apply to the crippled man in our gospel today. He had troubles galore, but when Christ appeared before him, “nothing but happiness came through his door.” This man, crippled for 38 years and lying by the Bethesda Pool, had placed all his hope, which was quickly fading, on the miracle of these healing waters. No one would help him into the pool. Can you imagine how deflated he felt each time this happened? Then along comes Jesus who asks him: “DO YOU WANT TO BE WELL?”
Instead of answering with a simple yes or no, the man explains that no one will help him into the water. Fortunately for the crippled man, Jesus heals him with the simple response: “RISE, TAKE UP YOUR MAT, AND WALK”.
Jesus gave life back to this man. The waters of the pool failed to bring life; only Jesus’ word does. Healing flows from Jesus like the water in Ezechial’s vision in our first reading. For the once crippled man, Jesus’ word now meant that his old life was dead, and new life begins.
All these water images represent God’s care and healing, power and love for us in our everyday lives. It’s a good reminder to us these days. It’s easy to overlook God’s healing presence among us when we’re consumed with so many cares right now: in our country and our world, for our families and friends. It can be exhausting and overwhelming. Instead of peaceful, soothing waters around us, it feels like our waters are very troubled.
St. Patrick felt those troubled waters of his day and was compelled by God’s call to bring God’s Word and Christ’s healing presence to the pagan people of Ireland. What we know of his life is that St. Patrick was:
- Born in the late 4th century somewhere in the British Isles, captured by Irish pirates when he was 16, taken as a slave to Ireland, and lived there for six years before escaping back to his native land and family.
- Eventuallly he became a priest, then a Bishop. In his 40’s, he felt called to return to Ireland as a missionary. There he converted many, ordained priests and founded monasteries. He was humble and courageous in all he did.
- In the 7th century, he was declared the patron saint of Ireland.
Today, as we reflect on Christ’s healing presence in our lives and how we can witness our baptismal lifegiving waters to others, it seems fitting to pray the prayer, St. Patrick’s Breastplate, which conveys Christ’s loving presence in us.
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen
