"One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.....Jesus asked him, 'Do you want to get well?'"
In the reading above, Jesus encounters a man who had never walked. This invalid had made a career out of weakness. For him, it was not a bad life. How so? Friends brought him to the pool of water that was supposed to have healing properties. The City provided shelter. Here, he met his cronies for regular conversation. The Portico of Bethesda was a comfortable place to people watch and pass the time with others.
"Do you want to be healed?" was no rhetorical question. Let me illustrate. A sickness of our society is war. Nobody wants war. Yet, out of its preparation and execution great prosperity is generated for military industry and defense projects. If you doubt it, just try and close a naval or air base.
In our immediate present, inflation is seriously affecting our economic security. But, everyone wants to buy a house for $250,000 and, two years later, sell it for $300,000. Do we want to be healed?
This morning's news reported that a Radio Talk Show Host signed an 8 year contract for $400,000,000. The program solely gives itself to a discussion of problems and weaknesses. However, the fact is more people are healed by being made aware of opportunities and resources. The invalid at the pool was no rare specimen of human kind. He was exceedingly like many of us. We prefer to embellish the sickness than go for the healing.
I believe the teachings of Jesus destroy our illusions and give us health.
Charles Jackson
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