‘They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. ‘He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” ‘And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.’ (Mark 8:22-25)
Jesus’ earthly ministry included many things: preaching, instructing his followers and preparing others for the coming of the Kingdom of God. He performed many miracles; changing water into wine and feeding thousands of people by multiplying the loaves and fishes. And lastly, but certainly not least, he healed many people.
We are all familiar with the Gospel passages that relate the stories of Jesus’ healing the man born blind, the ten lepers and paralytics. Who could forget the tremendous faith of this sick woman: ‘Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. (Matthew 9:20-22)
But Jesus did not come just to heal us of our bodily afflictions; he came to heal our soul as well. Reading through the Gospels, it soon becomes evident that Jesus links faith and healing; many times he asks the sick to believe, or, as in the case of the woman in Matthew’s Gospel, he explains that their faith has saved them.
‘Christ’s compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that “God has visited his people” and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Jesus has the power not only to heal, but also to forgive sins; he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of. His compassion toward all who suffer goes so far that he identifies himself with them: “I was sick and you visited me.” His preferential love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the very special attention of Christians toward all those who suffer in body and soul. It is the source of tireless efforts to comfort them.’ (CCC 1503)
Christ takes on our suffering, but in his earthly ministry he did not heal all of the sick. Instead, his healings were signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God – the victory over sin and death. This particular ministry of healing, encompassing both body and soul, is one he passed on to his disciples. Not only did he give the disciples the ability to absolve sins through the Sacrament of Confession, but he gave them the power to heal bodily illnesses too.
‘Christ invites his disciples to follow him by taking up their cross in their turn. By following him they acquire a new outlook on illness and the sick. Jesus associates them with his own life of poverty and service. He makes them share in his ministry of compassion and healing: “So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.”’ (CCC 1506)
But importantly, we understand that it is through our faith in Jesus Christ that we are healed in his name. For indeed, it is through a worthy reception of the Sacraments of healing, Confession and Anointing of the Sick, followed by the Eucharist, that we can be truly healed, both body and soul and come closer to living in the Father’s house for eternity.
That is why our priests, on behalf of the Church, exhort us all to make frequent use of the Sacrament of Confession, and to receive the Anointing of the Sick whenever we are gravely ill. Jesus wants to heal us, but we need to desire to be healed. We must want to be saved and lead holy lives accordingly.
Don’t put off the healing process because you’re scared of Confession, or what the priest might say. Receive the Eucharist regularly and worthily. Start today, so that when you receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick just prior to your passing over to eternal life, you will have all the provisions necessary to attain your Heavenly reward. Besides, we don’t know when Jesus will return, but when he does, we surely want to go with him into paradise.
Originally posted 2014-11-07 22:09:25.