Today's Gospel passage gives an account of the First Conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. It is about Jesus' power to heal and forgive sins they could not accept.

We see in this episode how Jesus forgave sin manifested through a cure. In Jewish thinking, Jesus' claim to have the power to forgive sins is the exclusive prerogative of God (Lk. 5:21). Hence for the Pharisees, Jesus' words were considered blasphemy. Yet this is Jesus' mission to heal and forgive.

In Luke's Gospel, the time of Jesus marked the beginning of the end-time of salvation, as in the sacrament of reconciliation today. What then are the expected signs?

This is personified in Is.35:17-26, where in the following is stated:

Vs 1 & 2 ... the wilderness and dry land exult, wastelands rejoice and bloom, bringing forth flowers...

Vs. 3 & 4...Strengthen all weary hands, steady all trembling knees and have courage ...

Vs 5 & 6... eye of the blind will be opened, ears of the deaf are unsealed, tongues of the dumb Sing for joy.

These signs of redemption reveal the presence of God, the Almighty! What a consolation and hope for us at this critical time of our history, especially for the victims of war-torn countries such as Ukraine and Myanmar. Let us prepare for the celebration of the coming of Jesus into the world with fervent faith and hope!