Sunday of the Paralytic - 5/3/26
On the Fourth Sunday of Pascha, May 3rd, the Church remembers the man who lay paralyzed at the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem for thirty-eight years. The first person to enter the pool after an Angel troubled the water would be healed of his infirmities, but someone always entered the pool before him. Seeing the paralytic, the Lord felt compassion for him and healed him on the Sabbath, during the days of the Passover, when He had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast.
As we remember the paralytic, let us ask Christ to "raise up our souls, paralyzed by sins and thoughtless acts" (Kontakion of the paralytic).
The Church also remembers on this day:
Ven. Theodosius, Abbot of the Kiev Caves Monastery and Founder of Cœnobitic Monasticism in Russia (1074)
Martyrs Timothy the Reader and his wife Maura of Antinoë in Egypt (ca. 286)
St. Peter the Wonderworker, Bishop of Argolis (10th c.)
“Svena” Icon of the Mother of God (1288)
Holy Great Martyr Xenia of Kalamata (291).
Read more about the lives of these and others commemorated this day here.
Readings for Sunday, May 3rd:
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7
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
10
We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11
For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
12
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13
Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
14
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.
15
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
16
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
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27
All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
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32
Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.
33
There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.
34
And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.
35
So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36
At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.
37
But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38
And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
39
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40
But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
41
Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42
And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
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1
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
3
In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
4
For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
5
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
6
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
9
And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
10
The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11
He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
12
Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”
13
But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
14
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15
The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
The Holy Scriptures are part of the Church’s Holy Tradition. Metropolitan Kallistos Ware of blessed memory wrote:
In the words of Father Alexander Schmemann, “A Christian is the one who, wherever he looks, finds everywhere Christ, and rejoices in Him.” This is true in particular of the biblical Christian. Wherever he looks, on every page, he finds everywhere Christ.
See Metropolitan Ware’s article How to Read the Bible for more on an Orthodox approach to scripture.