God's Healing, Accessible to All

My doctor uses a medical app to schedule and communicate with me. I have the patient version of the app on my phone, and all my records and test results are accessible through it.

A day before my appointment, I usually receive a notification to respond to a few questions--questions about how I feel physically, emotionally, and mentally. Through the app, my doctor asks me if I'm stressed or anxious about something and what practices I do to cope with stress, whether I do breathing exercises, take a walk, or meditate.  

The approach to health and wellness has significantly evolved to embrace a more holistic perspective, which is good. Medical practices now try to consider the entirety of a person's being—physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual well-being. 

We go to doctors as we should. Humans are composed of body and soul, and Jesus, as we know, became fully human, incarnate, God in the flesh. He took on our humanity without losing his divinity. Jesus is fully God and fully human. So, caring for our bodies, a God-given gift, is necessary and prudent.

But in our pursuit of healing and wellness, it's crucial to reflect on deeper questions: While we place our trust in contemporary medical practices, do we also invest in our faith in Christ and the power of His sacraments? Do we consider turning to Jesus in prayer for healing, for wellness? 

The Gospel (Mark 1:40-45) tells the story of a leper who comes to Jesus, imploring Him to be made clean, to be healed. Jesus stretches out His hand, touches him, and heals him.

This encounter highlights the leper's faith in Jesus' power to heal. This faith drives him to seek out Jesus despite the societal barriers and the stigma associated with his condition. His plea, "If you choose, you can make me clean," reflects a recognition of Jesus' authority over illness and his submission to Jesus' will. This act of faith is a powerful reminder for us, especially in a world where reliance on scientific advancement often overshadows spiritual trust. The leper's approach to Jesus encompasses physical wellness, as well as spiritual surrender and trust in God's will. 

Jesus' response to the leper is equally significant. By choosing to heal the leper, Jesus demonstrates God's will is indeed towards our wholeness and well-being. His compassion breaks through the barriers of societal norms and legalistic restrictions of the time, showing that God's love and healing are accessible to all, regardless of their conditions or social standing. Jesus not only heals the leper physically but also restores him to the community, highlighting the holistic nature of Christ's healing ministry.

I challenge us to expand our understanding of health beyond the physical and recognize that we must also attend to our spiritual well-being. In times of illness or distress, do we only seek the expertise of medical professionals, or do we also turn to Jesus in prayer, trusting in His power to heal and transform us? Do we participate in the sacraments with the faith that Christ is present and active in our lives, offering us grace that nourishes and strengthens?

The sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, are profound encounters with Christ, where we experience His healing touch and His mercy. Just as the leper reached out to Jesus in faith, we are called to approach the sacraments with hearts full of trust in God's grace, which restores us to spiritual health, makes us whole, and deepens our union with Christ. NQ

The "Jobs" Among Us

In 1929, the stock market crashed and banks closed. It was that year that the Great Depression years began. Many people lost fortunes and jobs.

It was a time not only of economic depression but also of emotional depression. Thousands of people experienced despair when they lost all their savings and had no other resources on which to depend.

The Book of Job tells us about a man who has lost everything—wealth, family, and health. Job's lamentation, "Is not man's life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of hirelings? He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages." These words echo the depths of human despair. Job feels abandoned. His days "come to an end without hope," a sentiment that, unfortunately, is all too familiar in our world today.

Job's suffering is a cry that went unheard by his friends, who failed to offer the comfort and understanding he needed. In contrast, Jesus shows us the way of active compassion—not only does He touch and heal, but He also listens to those who come to Him and pray for them.

As followers of Christ, we are His hands, ears, and heart in the world. We say that the Church is the Body of Christ in the world. We are the Church, we are the Body of Christ. There are "Jobs" among us today—people suffering from war, illness, loneliness, despair, or poverty. Like Jesus, we are to touch, listen, and pray for them. To touch means to reach out to those in need, offering physical assistance and presence. To listen means to provide a compassionate ear, understanding that sometimes, being heard is a form of healing. To pray means to lift up those suffering to God, entrusting them to His care and asking for His intervention.

This calling is not easy. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones, to confront pain and suffering, and to offer ourselves as instruments of God's healing grace. Yet, in doing so, we truly become the body of Christ, His hands, His ears, and His heart in the world.

NQ