Jesus, You Are the Healing

Jesus, you are the healing, 

you came to make us whole again.

                             “You Are The Healing”  words and music by Scott Soper

Today’s scripture readings contain 2 stories about healing. A significant part of both stories is that the main character (the person) healed is not Jewish.

In Second Kings Chapter 5 the Prophet Elisha instructs Naaman to plunge in the River Jordan. Naaman is the General of the Arameans, a people at war with Israel. The reading ends with the newly healed Naaman making testimony to the Lord.

Interestingly, the person who brings Naaman to Elisha is an Israelite girl captured by the Arameans in a raid and works as a servant for Naaman’s wife. Another interesting thread has to do with a man named Gehazi.  (I’ll leave that or you to read.)

In the gospel we hear a story where a Samaritan is among 10 people healed of leprosy.

1. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met [him]. They stood at a distance from him
2. and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
3. And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”* As they were going they were cleansed.
4. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;

Here is a portion of the U.S. Catholic Bishop’s commentary:

This incident... provides an instance of Jesus holding up a non-Jew as an example to his Jewish contemporaries....(resembling).... Lk 10:33 where a similar purpose is achieved in the story of the good Samaritan....

If you are like me, you might wonder as to why only one the 10 realize he had been healed. The answer is found in the continuation of the commentary and is the main point of today’s scripture lessons.

.....it is the faith in Jesus manifested by the foreigner that has brought him salvation.

Our processional, “If God Is For Us” (#605) and offertory “You Are the Healing” (#399) were selected to highlight God’s healing power. The recessional hymn “Now Thank We All Our God” (#196) gives us the opportunity to praise God for God’s gift of healing in our lives.

Blessed to be in ministry at St. Mary’s

Bruce

PS

We continue our October devotion to the Blessed Mother by singing “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman” (#705) as the Gathering Song.