Homily on the Paralytic at the Pool

Contents

1. 0Wherever Jesus goes he brings salvation, healing the sick at the pools.
2. 2Jesus chose the man ill for thirty-eight years, saw his need of soul and body, and made healing depend on his willing.
3. 5Like the blind men, the paralytic is led by Christ's question to knowledge; Christ, true God and true man, is the spring of life who walks on the waters.
4. 6Christ heals by his word; the litter of the Song of Songs is read as a figure of the cross and passion, and the Song is to be heard chastely.
5. 7Christ healed the long paralysis instantly by a word, but could not heal the long unbelief of those who murmured at his healing on the sabbath.
6. 8The healed man answers the critics: the one whose word healed him has the right to command him.
7. 10Christ withdrew to avoid praise; his warning "Sin no more" is addressed to all, who must master the flesh and run to the forgiver of sins.
8. 11Cyril ends so as not to delay the teaching of the presiding bishop.