Homily by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan Book 5 on Luke v: Octave Six

 

Homily by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

Book 5 on Luke v

"And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy." The healing of this paralytic was not idle, nor its fruits limited to himself. The Lord healed him, or ever he could ask, not because of the entreaties of others, but for example's sake. He gave a pattern to be followed, and sought not the intercession of prayer. In the presence of the Pharisees and doctors of the law, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem, many sick folk were healed, but among them is specially described the healing of this paralytic. First of all, as we have before said, every sick man ought to engage his friends to offer up prayers for his recovery, that so the tottering framework of this our life, and the distorted feet of our works, may be righted by the healing power of the word from heaven.

Here ought therefore to be advisers, who should rouse up the minds of the sick to higher things, since when the body becomes languid with sickness, the mind is apt to follow its example. With the help of such friends he can be brought and laid on the ground before the Feet of Jesus, and seem worthy of a glance from the Lord for the Lord looks upon such as lie lowly before Him, "for He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden" Luke ii. 48. "And when He saw their faith, He said unto him Man, your sins are forgiven you." Great is the Lord, who, for the sake of some, forgives the sins of others who tries some, and pardons the wanderings of others. Why should you be equal, O man, avail not with you, if a slave have won power to intercede, and right to obtain, with God?

O you that judges, learn to forgive those that are sick, to pray. If you doubt of the pardon of your sins, because of their grievousness, get to the Church, that she may pray for you, and that the Lord, accepting her countenance, may grant to her petitions what He refuses to thine. And although we are bound to accept this history as one of fact, and to believe that the body of the paralytic was healed yet remember  also his inward cure, unto whom his sins were forgiven. The Jews said: "Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And in these words they confessed the Godhead of Him Who forgave the sins of the paralytic, and themselves condemned their own unbelief in Him Whose work they acknowledged, but Whose Person they denied.