The Authority to Forgive Sins: A Spiritual Truth

Reflection on Today's Readings, 13th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, Thursday 2nd July, 2020
Texts: Amos 7:10-17; Ps. 19:8-10; Mtt. 9:1-8
The coming of Jesus into the world is a new dawn in human history; his coming bestows on humanity a higher dignity. One of the dignities the coming of Jesus Christ bestows on us is the authority to forgive sins. Matthew, in today's gospel reading, writes: "But that  you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins- he then said to the paralytic- 'Rise, take up your bed and go home.' And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men". Jesus Christ, after his resurrection, appeared to his apostles and gave them the power to forgive sins. Jesus breathed on his apostles and said, "receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained" (John 20:22-24). This authority given to the apostles has been passed down to our age; the authority is exercised by priests whom the faculty is given.
Many christians still challenge this authority today while some Catholics still doubt it.  Jesus Christ referred to the thought that man could not forgive sins as evil thought.  Anyone who has such thought is entertaining evil thought.
The fact that the authority to forgive sins is challenged and doubted today is a confirmation of its truth. Truth is always bitter, often challenged and always leaves reasons for doubt. Truth is always difficult to be told because it could endanger the life of he who tells it.
Prophet Amos, in today's first reading,  was challenged and accused for saying the truth. The truth is often unbearable as Amaziah rightly noted: "the land is not able to bear all his words". Both Gospel and the first reading show that truth is often challenged. Truth of spiritual order often faces more challenges because it is beyond human comprehension. We are more inclined to earthly things that spiritual truth becomes unbearable to us. There is a call to shift our gaze from earthly things so as to see clearly the spiritual truth.

Lord our God, give us the courage to shift our gaze from earthly things so as to raise our eyes to you. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke