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:
- Our longing for healing
- The desperation of those who suffer
- The depth and breadth of emotions around illness
- How we all have experience with sickness and death
- God’s profound gift of healing & life
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.
- Who is suffering in our lives right now?
- How can we help through prayer or service?
- How do we promote comprehensive healing – in Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul?
Jesus comes to bring life; may our lives – guided in faith – be directed toward healing the wounds we witness.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Note: This blog post was originally published on June 23, 2015.
