Tuesday March 16, 2021 - Fourth week of Lent - Create in me a pure heart, O my God; give me back the joy of being saved - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 5, 1-16

Here Jesus has in front of him a sick man who has not been able to walk for thirty-eight years. He hoped to heal while the water in the Bethzatha pool started to bubble, but each time someone beat him, because there was no one to help him. Yet he persevered and ended up meeting Jesus.

"Get up, take your stretcher and walk", these are the words spoken by Jesus so that the man may be healed. He never said, "Stay here and hail God, for you're healed." This means that Jesus prompts this man to take charge of his life. Moreover, he not only healed her so that he could return to society, since he told her, "Here you are. Don't sin any more, something worse could happen to you." That is, this man must also be concerned with his spiritual life so as not to sink into sin, leading to death which is worse than disease.

In this time of Lent, we must recognize that we are all sinners and that only the mercy of God can free us from this state. After our conversion, let's make good resolutions instead of just rejoicing that we've been reconciled to God. Through this Gospel, Jesus invites us to concern ourselves with our spiritual life. He offers us salvation, but it is up to us to make the effort to deserve it.