What If?

There was a multitude of invalids, blind, lame paralyzed, waiting. Hoping to be changed, healed of whatever disease plagued them. This is an area where double-basin pools known for their healing powers existed, "healing springs" curing diseases, after the stirring of the water by an angel. Everyone's heard of these healing springs and many sick, to this very day, flock to them. The first one to access the water after it's stirring, was granted a get-well wish. There among them, was the wish of a man who was "seeking" for thirty-eight years. He had time to think about whatever ailed him and was probably certain, having almost given up, that he would always be the same. "What if?" What if, he were a little more "determined" to get to the place where healing occurred? How much did he really "want" to be healed? This is one of my favorite scriptures because it says a lot about the human will. Independent, verses dependent, is what happens after healing. Healing requires work, change and self-examination. You've got to desire and fight for it, spiritually, physically and mentally. You must be determined and never, never give up.

Living at a busy pace allows us to escape the small inner voice, our conscience beckoning us at every level to examine how things need to be "different," but is that what we really want? Or, rather, is it our sinful ways that we cling to? It is a very humbling experience to be revealed as you truly are, by another, but we have to "listen" first, and that is another matter.

In the case of the gospel today, (John 5:6)The Orthodox Study Bible. Jesus was seen saying to the sick man "Do You want to be made well?" It sounds like an odd question, or perhaps, it is an interesting question. A cure usually leads to a conversion, and a righteous way of life. My guess is most people do not want to be made well, that would involve changing and they have grown accustomed to life just the way it is.

What if, Jesus granted you the grace to see yourself just once through His eyes? Your spiritual and well-being begins there in the healing pool, within, with your "desire" to learn "how am I" to be changed and healed from every infirmity known and unknown.

He is just waiting for you to ask and to say "Yes, I desire healing".

Like the multitudes, be still and listen, desire and wait for the waters of salvation to be stirred up in you, and you will be changed because your infirmity grew old and you tired of them, and chose to be healed at the pool in the water.
(Scripture reference from The Orthodox Study Bible)