THURSDAY OF THE THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, JULY 2, 2026

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

Matthew 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,"Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,'or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"–he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with aweand glorified God who had given such authority to men.

REFLECTION

"Courage, child, your sins are forgiven."

Distractions are part of life. Some are minor and easy to handle. Anxiety and fear usually accompany the major distractions as there usually will be changes in thought out plans, tardiness to appointments or the solution requires all my efforts or a redo of my work.

Finding Jesus has stabilized my life with the routines of daily prayer, Mass and Adoration, but a phone call regarding an emergency, or another phone call with setting up appointments or talking to a friend who has problems can slow down accomplishing much for the day. However, these are reminders of Jesus in my life, for each distraction reminds me of how we are to love, deal with one another and serve the Lord through our actions and works.

Past bad behavior or past sins are major distractions of regret. I can’t undo the spoken words said in anger, or an accusatory tone, or actual deeds done. I know they have been forgiven in confession, “ Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” Yet, what does one do with regret?

St Augustine in his book Confessions experienced his own fair share of regrets over his wayward ways. He wrote that the past cannot be changed but it can be released. Through genuine repentance, past sins and mistakes are washed away by God’s boundless mercy.

Surrender our past regrets to God’s mercy and avoid the trap of replaying past regret as they distract us from daily experiencing God’s grace and living fully in God in the present. Find true peace by embracing God’s love in the present day.

“Late have I loved you, O Beauty so ancient, O Beauty so new”

St Augustine

God Bless You