Finding Courage in His Mercy

Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Amos 7:10-17

Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam,
king of Israel:
"Amos has conspired against you here within Israel;
the country cannot endure all his words.
For this is what Amos says:
Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land."

To Amos, Amaziah said:
"Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!
There earn your bread by prophesying,
but never again prophesy in Bethel;
for it is the king's sanctuary and a royal temple."
Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet,
nor have I belonged to a company of prophets;
I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.
The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,
'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
Now hear the word of the LORD!"

You say: prophesy not against Israel,
preach not against the house of Isaac.
Now thus says the LORD:
Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city,
and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword;
Your land shall be divided by measuring line,
and you yourself shall die in an unclean land;
Israel shall be exiled far from its land.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (10cd) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

Alleluia 2 Corinthians 5:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Courage, child, your sins are forgiven."
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
"This man is blaspheming."
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
"Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
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"–
he then said to the paralytic,
"Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

- - -

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

July 2, 2026 // Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8

Reflect on the Word //

The kids’ bedroom door closes behind me with a soft “click,” and I let out a long sigh. The boys are asleep at last, and now it’s time for all the day’s mistakes to begin clamoring for my attention.

The nightly self-accusations are wearyingly similar:

I lost my temper too many times to count.

I said unkind things I can’t take back.

I whined and complained instead of thanking God for His countless blessings.

There are so many wrongs I can’t right, and some nights the weight of my failings presses down so heavily, I feel spiritually paralyzed.

Then I hear Jesus’ words to the paralytic in today’s Gospel: “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2).

I know God’s mercy is infinite, an “abyss” as He described it to Saint Faustina (Diary 1777). Yet somehow, deep down, I’m always afraid that I will eventually run out of chances. My own spiritual paralysis terrifies me, and instead of throwing myself on His mercy, I beat myself up: I should be better by now; I should have conquered these habits.

But here, laid out on my stretcher and unable to move, I see the Lord gazing down at me with love. And I know that I do not have to be afraid.

Courage. We have only to look at Him, not at ourselves. We are helpless, laid low by our sins, but He “has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6). The only thing that keeps Him from working miracles in and through us is our fear—the fear that says, God can’t possibly keep forgiving me . . . He must be so disappointed in me.

We can have complete confidence in this: Jesus is not afraid of our sin. He’s not scandalized by our weaknesses and daily failings. He only wants us to let Him come close and lift us to our feet. And He will happily do so again and again and again, as long as we do not lose courage—the courage that comes from trust in Him.

Relate to the Lord // Spend a moment in imaginative prayer as the paralytic on the mat. Look up at Jesus and ask Him for what you need.

Be a Woman of the Word

About Mary Beth Giltner

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Mary Beth Giltner is an editor and writer living in northeast Indiana with her theologian husband, two energetic boys, and a temperamental cat named Socrates. Her favorite thing about her work is walking with Catholic authors, helping them tell the world about Jesus. When not tapping away at her laptop, she enjoys taking long walks with her kids, crocheting, baking, and playing the piano.