Jesus was a healer: he cured the lame, the blind, and the deaf. He raised the dead to life. And healing, accordingly, has been associated with his followers from their very beginning. The Acts of the Apostles is filled with accounts of healing miracles via the earliest evangelists.
Up and down the centuries saints and holy people have been described as miraculous healers. For example, see Bernadette of Lourdes, who uncovered a spring which, for the last century and a half, has been a source of healing for the world. Even to the present day we have healers in our churches.
Why has this gift been given to the Church? Undoubtedly so as to carry on the work of Christ and to help with evangelization.
Do many people have it? Obviously not, although some people in the church do indeed have the gift of physical healing. It is, as Paul indicates, a sign gift; its purpose is to signal in a remarkable way the mysterious power of God. Count me suspicious of those who go on television with this supposed capacity, but count me deeply appreciative of those dedicated souls who do genuinely have this charism of physical healing.
Does it mean that Catholics ought to eschew ordinary medicine and seek this kind of healing? Obviously not. God loves to work through secondary causes like doctors, medicines, and nurses. Ought we to rely on this gift in a presumptuous way? No, but sometimes it is called for.
Faith, prayer, and an acceptance of God’s will are necessary for this gift. But it can be blocked. What can prevent it? Perhaps an enlightened rationalism that simply rules it out of court—an excessive, unhealthy skepticism.
But perhaps this gift is given more broadly if we construe it along psychological and spiritual lines.
Are you the kind of person who heals others, who brings calm and peace, who soothes troubled psyches and spirits? If so, how generously are you putting this gift to the service of others?
TEN WAYS TO LOVE OTHERS
1. Listen without interrupting ..... Prov 18
2. Speak without accusing .... James 1:19
3. Give without sparing .... Prov 21;26
4. Pray without ceasing .... Col 1:9
5. Answer without arguing .... Prov 17:11
6. Share without pretending .... Eph 4:15
7 Enjoy without complaining .... Phil 2:14
8. Trust without wavering .... Cor 13:7
9. Forgive without punishing .... Col 3:13
10. Promise without forgetting .... Prov 13:12
-- Author Unknown
JESUS IN THE HOUSE
One day he decided to invite the Lord to come home and stay with him. When
the Lord arrived, this young man offered him the very best room in the
house. The room was upstairs and at the end of the hall. "This room is
yours, Jesus! Stay as long as you like and you can do whatever you want to
in this room, remember Jesus, its all yours."
That evening after he had retired for the night there came a loud knocking
at the front door. The young man pulled on his robe and made his way
downstairs. When he opened the door he found that the devil had sent three
of his demons to attack the man. He quickly tried to close the door but one
of the demons kept sticking his foot in.
Sometime later, after a great struggle, he managed to slam the door shut and
returned to his room totally exhausted.
Can you believe that," the man thought. Jesus is upstairs in my very best
room sleeping while I am down here battling demons. Oh, well, maybe he just
didn't hear. He slept fitfully that night. The next day thing went along as
normal and, being tired as he was, the young man retired early that evening.
Along about midnight, there came such a terrible ruckus at the front door
that the young man was sure that whatever it was would tear the door down.
He stumbled down the stairs once again and opened the door to find that were
dozens of demons now trying to get into his beautiful home.
For more than three hours he fought and struggled against the demons from
hell, and finally overtook them enough to shut the door against their
attack. All energy seemed to fail him. He really didn't understand this at
all. Why won't the Lord come to my rescue? Why does he allow me to fight
all by myself? I feel so alone. Troubled, he found his way to the sofa and
fell into a restless sleep.
The next morning he decided to inquire of the Lord about the happenings of
the last two evenings. Quietly he made his way to the elegant bedroom where
he had left Jesus. "Jesus," he called as he tapped at the door. "Lord, I
don't understand what is happening. For the last two nights I have had to
fight the demons away from my door while you laid up here sleeping. Don't
you care about me? Did I not give you the very best room in the house?"
He could see the tears building in Jesus' eyes but continued on, "I just
don't understand, I really thought that once I invited you in to live with
me that you would take care of me and I gave you the best room in my house
and everything. What more can I do?"
"My precious child," Jesus spoke so softly. "I do love and care for you. I
protect all that you have released into my care. But, when you invited me to
come here and stay, you brought me to this lovely room and you shut the door
to the rest of your house. I am Lord of this room but I am not Master of
this house.
I have protected this room and no demon may enter here."
"Oh, Lord, please forgive me. Take all of my house -- it is yours. I am so
sorry that I never offered you all to begin with. I want you to have control
of everything." With this he flung open the bedroom door and knelt at
Jesus' feet. "Please forgive me Lord for being so selfish."
Jesus smiled and told him that He had already forgiven him and that He would
take care of things from now on. That night as the young man prepared for
bed he thought, I wonder if those demons will return, I am so tired of
fighting them each and every night. But, he knew that Jesus said that he
would take care of things from now on.
Along about midnight the banging on the door was frightening. The young man
slipped out of his room in time to see Jesus going down the stairs. He
watched in awe as Jesus swung open the door, no need to be afraid.
Satan stood at the door, this time demanding to be let in. "What do you
want, satan?" the Lord asked. The devil bowed low in the presence of the
Lord, "So sorry, I seem to have gotten the wrong address." And with that, he
and the demons all ran away.
There is a moral to this tale. Jesus wants all of you, not just a part. He
will take all that you give Him, but nothing more. How much of your heart
have you given to the Lord? Are you keeping a portion of it away from Him?
Perhaps the attacks are coming more and more each day. Why not let the Lord
fight the battles for you? He is always victorious. I have found that God
made man simple, all of man's complexities are of his own devising.
-- Author Unknown
Rules For Daily Life Begin the day with God
Kneel down to Him in prayer;
Lift up thy heart to His abode.
And seek His love to share. Open the Book of God
And read a portion there;
That it may hallow all thy thoughts,
And sweeten all thy care. Go through the day with God
Whate'er thy work may be;
Where'er thou art-at home, abroad,
He still is near to thee. Converse in the mind with God
Thy spirit heavenward raise:
Acknowledge every good bestowed,
And offer grateful praise. Conclude the day with God
Thy sins to Him confess;
Trust in the Lord's atoning blood,
And plead His righteousness. Lie down at night with God
Who gives His servants sleep;
And when thou tread'st the vale of death,
He will thee guard and keep. Pass this inspiration on ...
- Author Unknown
Verse of the Day "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me. I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me." Psalm 66:16-20 March 8 - Jesus Calling Save your best striving for seeking My Face. I am constantly communicating with you. To find Me and hear My voice, you must seek Me above all else. Anything that you desire more than Me becomes an idol. When you are determined to get your own way, you blot Me out of your consciousness. Instead of single-mindedly pursuing some goal, talk with Me about it. Let the Light of My Presence shine on this pursuit, so that you can see it from My perspective. If the goal fits into My plans for you, I will help you reach it. If it is contrary to My will for you, I will gradually change the desire of your heart. Seek Me first and foremost; then the rest of your life will fall into place, piece by piece. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
—1 Chronicles 16:11 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
—Matthew 6:33 |
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