On gospel icons, the spiritual state of humanity is often depicted as physical paralysis (see the healing of the paralyzed in Mt., Lk., Mk., Jn., etc.). We will also use this image for a better understanding of the essence of the things we are talking about!
How to show (help see, know) to a paralyzed that they are paralyzed, when they do not know it and do not trust those who tell them about it?! Very simple – give them a commandment (what characterizes normal, healthy people): do this and that, or do not do this and that (normal, healthy people fulfill these commandments, moreover – they live by them, it is a normal, natural state for them, not something external, they do not need to be reminded or taught this…). As long as they think (dream about themselves) that they can do everything whenever they want (or can not do it), then they, although will sin (and even ‘repent’ of sins, promise not to sin anymore, not to do this), will not recognize their helplessness, paralysis, their infirmity! Therefore, as long as they do not overcome their laziness (= do not start doing the will of Another; because as long as someone does their own, egotistic will (does everything in their own name, for themselves, for their pleasure-seeking) – their deeds are empty, lazy) – nothing will help! Go to the store! – I don’t want to! (not I can’t, but I don’t want to!?). Go to the kitchen, eat, or cook! – I don’t want to! (I will be hungry, but I will not go to work!?). Get up from bed, go for a walk. – I don’t feel like it, I’ll lie in bed a little longer!? Go to the toilet! – I don’t want to, let the toilet come to me, and if not, then to spite everyone I will relieve myself under me, both big and small (they will know not to disobey my orders!?) etc. But as soon as the paralyzed wants to fulfill these ‘commandments’ – it will turn out that they do not not want to, but CANNOT fulfill them!!! They cannot not relieve themselves, if the nanny (caregiver) does not help (have mercy on them) and does not put a pot in time (or if they are left alone with themselves); they cannot not be hungry, if they are not fed; they cannot go for a walk, until they are taken out for a walk… That is, by themselves, with their own efforts they cannot do anything good, but do not want to! Already does not rely on themselves (they live only because there are others; another is the source of their life!) – enters the state of humility (the state of righteousness – knowledge of the truth about themselves and about reality). (In the state of humility, the paralyzed no longer drives away the nanny, does not offend, does not hurt, does not scorn her, does not humiliate her, – but knows well (not by hearsay, but from their own experience-knowledge), that she is their life (they exist only because there are Others, without whom they are nothing, a dead person)).
So, the paralyzed always relieves themselves under themselves! Whether to the commandment (not to relieve oneself under oneself, but to go to the toilet for needs, and definitely to flush after oneself, to leave the toilet clean!) relieved oneself under oneself (when the nanny and those who cared for them did not put a pot in time; or just left them alone for a long time, forgetting that they cannot do anything (good) by themselves…), and after the ‘commandment’ will relieve oneself under oneself, both big and small! That is, fulfilling (trying to fulfill; it is impossible to fulfill them!) ‘commandments’ will not make the paralyzed healthy, but with the help of the commandment (trying to fulfill it, them) they can recognize their helplessness, paralysis, weakness; that they do not not want to relieve themselves under themselves, but cannot not relieve themselves under themselves (to sin – is to relieve oneself under oneself, it is filth, which we, being sinners (godless, without the grace of the Holy Spirit), cannot not do; we ourselves, by our own forces, cannot not sin!).
The paralyzed always relieved themselves under themselves, but this did not bring them to their senses (they made excuses; asked for forgiveness, promising that they would not do it anymore; blamed others for what happened; sometimes intentionally, to ‘spite’ others, relieved themselves under themselves etc.), they considered themselves healthy and normal, and did not want to listen about any Doctor. They were given the commandment not to relieve themselves under themselves, so that, trying (because it is impossible for the paralyzed to fulfill this commandment) to fulfill this commandment, they recognized that they are paralyzed, a cripple, not just someone who does not make it to the toilet (who does not happen to?!), or relieves themselves under themselves in bed during sleep (excuse: did not make it, overslept, it just happened, the nanny is to blame etc.). Recognizing the truth about themselves – that they are a cripple, a living dead, – they themselves will cry out for salvation (healing), desire, that the Doctor (Savior) come to them and save them! They themselves will ask to call the Doctor to them, or to carry them to Him! Here a person has matured to become a Christian, to receive healing from the Doctor – the grace of the Holy Spirit, that is, to be baptized into the Body of Christ, the Church (Christianity begins after baptism by the Holy Spirit, not after the act of baptism and bathing in holy water!!!). Now the paralyzed understands who the Savior (Healer) is and why He is needed!