Reflect today on how brave you are to ask God for forgiveness

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic: "Courage, son, your sins are forgiven". Matthew 9: 2b

This story ends with Jesus healing the paralytic and telling him to "get up, take the stretcher and go home". Man does just that and the crowd is amazed.

There are two miracles that happen here. One is physical and one is spiritual. The spiritual one is that this man's sins are forgiven. The physical one is the healing of his paralysis.

Which of these miracles are most important? Which do you think man wanted most?

It is difficult to answer the second question because we do not know the thoughts of man, but the first is easy. Spiritual healing, the forgiveness of one's sins, is by far the most important of these two miracles. It is the most significant because it has eternal consequences for his soul.

For most of us, it is easy to pray to God for things like physical healing or the like. We may find it easy enough to ask God for favors and blessings. But how easy is it for us to ask for forgiveness? This may be more difficult for many to do because it requires an initial act of humility on our part. We must first recognize that we are sinners in need of forgiveness.

Recognizing our need for forgiveness requires courage, but this courage is a great virtue and reveals a great strength of character on our part. Coming to Jesus to seek his mercy and forgiveness in our life is the most important prayer that we can pray and the foundation of all the rest of our prayers.

Reflect today on how brave you are asking God for forgiveness and how humbly you are willing to acknowledge your sin. Doing an act of humility like this is one of the most important things you can do.

Lord, give me courage. Give me the courage, in particular, to humble myself in front of you and to recognize all my sin. In this humble recognition, help me to also seek your daily forgiveness in my life. Jesus I believe in you.