Jesus, You Are the Healing
Today I’d like to begin with a question. To be more precise; I begin with part of a
question. To what length will people go?
To what length will people go:
1.
To get a good parking spot at the beach?
2.
To get the best recipe for barbecuing ribs
3.
To lose weight
(presumably after they have answered question 2?)
Here’s one which pertains to today’s gospel:
To what length will people go for healing?
I’m sure you’ve heard or read about to what length people go
they seeking healing from everything from cancer to depression to infertility.
Odds are that many, if not all of us are on our own personal journey seeking
health and healing.
In today’s gospel, Mark recounts 2 stories of healing. I will
let you preview or review these stories on your own. Instead I’ll share a
concise commentary from the U.S. Council of Bishops. (The underlines are my
emphasis.)
“Both in the case of
Jairus and his daughter and in the case of the hemorrhage victim, the inner
conviction that physical contact accompanied by faith in Jesus’ saving power could
effect a cure was rewarded.”
Today’s music reminds us of the need to reach out to Jesus.
Our prelude “Lay Your Hands” centers on a means by which people
of faith both past and present have sought God’s healing.
The processional song; “Glory and Praise to Our God” (#546)
speaks of God’s healing from the perspective of gratitude. “Many
are the blessings (God) bears to those who trust in his ways.”
At offertory we will sing a mash-up (to borrow a term from pop
music) of “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” (#689) and “You Are the Healing”
(#400).
I conclude with several quotes and a link highlighting 2
important topics:
- The difference between being healed and being cured.
- The church’s teaching on the role suffering
Not
everything can be cured. Fortunately cure is not the only successful outcome of
our relationships to our patients.
Rachel Naomi Remen M.D.
In some
ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as
the meaning of a sacrifice.”
Viktor Frankl
Therefore,
I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and
constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
St. Paul 2 Corinthians 12:10
Go to http://www.rachelremen.com/some-thoughts-on-healing/ for
a wonderful perspective on healing.
Blessed to be in ministry
at St. Mary’s,
Bruce
ps
My summer Sunday scripture series continues Sunday July 8
from 11 to 11:45 in the parish center.
Come take a deeper look at the days readings.
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