Servais Pinckaers

The healing of a paralytic at the pool of Bethesda. “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work” (Jn 5.17). He calls God his Father : “Ho Pater mou heos arti ergazetai, k’ago ergazomai.” Jesus works in continuity with his Father. Not only filiation, but divine collaboration. The work of the Father in our lives through the Christ is at the source of our actions. Continuity of the Father and the Son and us who accomplish the will of the Father by following the Christ. The spiritual, even divine, dimension of our acts, if they are conformed to the will of the Father : “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” There is no reason to consider ourselves gods, but as servants of God, servants with whom the Father has willed to associate himself, through the grace of the Son who makes us adoptive sons : a reality beyond words, to the depth of whose mystery the words themselves point.

Personal relations. We are not alone, even in physical solitude. The healing power of Jesus, even for us cripples. Not to fear weakness, sickness or infirmity. An offering to the Father in confidence. God is the Lord of time and can work whenever he wants, even on a Sunday ! The joy of working for the Lord and for the Church.