Feria III after the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In the traditional Catholic liturgical calendar, the readings for Feria III after the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost are 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 and Matthew 9:1-8. These readings invite us to reflect on two profound aspects of the Christian faith: the grace of God manifested in our lives through Christ, and the power of divine forgiveness and healing. By meditating on these passages, we are called to deepen our trust in God’s grace, which sustains us, and to recognize the intimate link between spiritual and physical healing in Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:4-8 — Gratitude for Grace
In his letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul expresses his deep gratitude for the grace that has been given to the faithful:
“I give thanks to my God always for you, because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 1:4).
The Apostle acknowledges the abundance of spiritual gifts bestowed on the Corinthian community, notably knowledge and speech, and emphasizes that these gifts have been received through the grace of Christ. Importantly, St. Paul stresses that this grace will sustain them “to the end” (1 Cor 1:8), ensuring their perseverance in faith until the return of Christ.
The Church Fathers interpret this passage as a reminder of the generosity of divine grace and the necessity of cultivating gratitude. St. John Chrysostom, commenting on this epistle, observes that Paul begins his letter by reminding the Corinthians of their spiritual blessings, not as a matter of pride, but to encourage them to use these gifts for the common good. Chrysostom emphasizes that Paul gives thanks not for material wealth or social standing, but for the gifts of faith and wisdom, which come from God and must be used for His glory. He writes:
“He praises them for the things which are in the power of God, not in the power of men, to show that they ought to give more thanks to God than they are doing.” (Homilies on 1 Corinthians, Homily II).
St. Augustine, too, reflects on this passage, noting that the grace of God is the source of all good in the Christian life. He urges the faithful to remain humble, recognizing that their strength and knowledge come not from themselves but from Christ, who will strengthen them in their journey to salvation. This echoes Augustine’s well-known maxim: “What hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (1 Cor 4:7).
Thus, 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 reminds us of the need to give constant thanks for the grace we receive and to trust that God will keep us firm in faith as we await the coming of Christ.
Matthew 9:1-8 — Forgiveness and Healing
In Matthew’s Gospel, we are presented with the account of the healing of the paralytic. This passage illustrates not only Christ’s power to heal physical ailments but, more importantly, His authority to forgive sins.
“Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven” (Matt 9:2).
The scribes who witness this miracle are scandalized, thinking that Jesus is blaspheming by claiming to forgive sins. But Christ, knowing their thoughts, responds by demonstrating His divine authority:
“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…” (Matt 9:5-6).
This passage, while recounting a physical healing, directs us to a deeper reality: the healing of the soul. St. Jerome, in his commentary on Matthew, points out that the paralytic represents fallen humanity, paralyzed by sin. Christ’s words, therefore, are addressed to all of us. Jerome writes:
“He first heals the spirit, that He may afterwards heal the body, that the greater may precede the lesser; and He shows that all the diseases which have been contracted by sin must be first cured in the soul, and then cured in the body.” (Commentary on Matthew, Book I).
St. Ambrose, similarly, sees in this miracle a powerful sign of the unity between the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of the whole person. He writes:
“The paralytic is lowered through the roof, signifying the healing that comes from on high. Christ heals not only his body but first his soul, for it is in forgiving sin that the ultimate healing is found.” (Exposition of the Gospel of Luke, 5:17-26).
Here, Ambrose reminds us that every outward sign of healing in the Gospels is meant to reveal the greater, invisible healing of sin. Just as Christ commanded the paralytic to “rise and walk,” so too He calls us to rise from the paralysis of sin and to walk in the freedom of grace.
The paralytic’s healing is a reminder that, as St. Augustine teaches, physical health is fleeting, but spiritual health leads to eternal life. Augustine notes:
“To forgive sins is a greater work than to create the heavens and the earth, for the heavens and earth will pass away, but the justification and salvation of the elect shall endure forever.” (Sermon 214).
Application for Our Spiritual Lives
These two readings, taken together, offer a profound lesson on the Christian life. St. Paul reminds us that all we have, especially the spiritual gifts, are from the grace of God, and that we are called to use them faithfully as we await the return of Christ. At the same time, the Gospel emphasizes the importance of seeking not just physical healing but, more importantly, the healing of the soul through the forgiveness of sins.
On this Feria III after the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, we are invited to renew our gratitude for God’s grace in our lives, trusting in His promise to sustain us. We are also reminded to seek the healing of our souls, turning to Christ with confidence in His mercy. Like the paralytic, we must have faith in the power of Christ to forgive our sins and restore us to spiritual health, allowing us to rise and walk in the path of holiness.
As we meditate on these readings, let us pray with St. Augustine:
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise” (Jeremiah 17:14).
May we, like the Corinthians, abound in the gifts of grace, and may we, like the paralytic, hear the words of Christ: “Rise, take up your bed, and go home.”