The woman who approaches Jesus meets no barriers or obstacles; instead she encounters the grace and mercy of the Messiah. May we look to the Lord in our need and trust in the power of his love.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 24th Week of the Year
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The Lord’s healing ministry reminds us that God continues to bring healing into our world today. May we examine our lives and reach out to others with the healing grace of Christ.
Mass Readings – 23rd Sunday of the Year
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Photo Credit: Son of God, 2014.
As the crowds gather around Jesus we see two central elements of his earthly ministry: healing the sick and driving out demons. The Lord’s work reveals what the demons already know; he is the Christ, the Son of God who has the power to save and set us free.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 22nd Week of the Year
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Study: Recall a moment when you experienced profound healing. Then consider a time when someone was genuinely hospitable to you.
Pray: Ask the Lord to see others with the eyes of Jesus.
Serve: How can you bring healing to another today? How can you reach out and welcome someone?
Mass Readings – 23rd Sunday of the Year
Two big themes bubble up in the Scriptures this week:
Both of these themes are part of the fabric of human life. We all know firsthand experiences of illness, disease, and discomfort. We know the relief that comes from health, especially after a long period of suffering. Jesus spent a substantial portion of his ministry healing others; indeed, every encounter with the Lord brought about some type of transformative renewal.
Hospitality touches another part of our existence. It is so easy to prejudge one another! Looks, clothing, money, power, success….we can quickly get caught up in externals and fail to recognize the shining soul that dwells in the heart. James (as usual) minces no words here – he speaks bluntly, calling us to treat one another as sons & daughters of God.
Where do you see healing in your life? Where do you see hospitality? Perhaps today we can be agents of both, helping others in moments of weakness and need, and reaching out to all with the love of Christ.
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Note: This post was first published on September 1, 2015
The Lord’s healing of the paralytic in the Gospel today invites us to consider both what needs to be healed in our lives and how we might bring others to Jesus for the healing they require.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 13th Week of the Year
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Often in life we experience the need for healing, both in our lives and in the lives of those around us. As we grow in faith we acknowledge the Lord’s power to bring this healing to our hearts…and as his disciples we become agents for the healing grace of Christ to work through us in the world.
Mass Readings – 13th Sunday of the Year
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Study: Consider people you know who are suffering right now. What is the nature of their struggle?
Pray: Keep a list of those who are sick nearby when you pray. Remember them often.
Serve: How can your faith help someone today who suffers? How can you be an instrument of healing and comfort?
Mass Readings – 13th Sunday of the Year
Consider for a moment someone you love who is seriously sick. Perhaps it’s a disease, an upcoming surgery, and undiagnosed circumstance, or the relentless experience of pain...we all know loved ones who suffer – and we would do anything to help.
Now imagine that you have heard about a miracle worker who cures the sick and resuscitates the dead. I know that if I discovered that Jesus of Nazareth was even remotely in the area I would rent a bus and bundle in everyone I could fit just for the chance that he would lay hands on them.
This is the situation we encounter in the Gospel today. People are crushing in on Christ; they have heard of his power and they are are desperate for healing. The double miracles in the reading point out a number of key concepts:
Simply put, an encounter with Jesus Christ is a healing encounter. In the face of sickness and disease, the Lord draws near – bringing grace and power – to restore life to those who suffer.
As his disciples, we are part of this healing mission.
Jesus comes to bring life; may our lives – guided in faith – be directed toward healing the wounds we witness.
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Note: This blog post was originally published on June 23, 2015.
