Hello By My Side friends,
I hope you are all enjoying the warmth and sunshine of this glorious October day. To experience the warmth of a beautiful fall day like today can bring great healing to our souls.
Did you know that Jesus is always healing people? Think about the Gospels. Over and over again, He was, and still is, healing people. He made the blind see, the deaf hear, the mute talk, and the paralyzed walk. He fed the hungry, comforted the afflicted, counseled the worried and anxious, cleansed lepers, and forgave those burdened with guilt and shame.
The mistake we make is setting ourselves apart from the people in these stories. We don’t think we need healing. We are not blind, deaf, dumb, or paralyzed, and we don’t see ourselves as possessed men, women, or children.
But we are blind. We are paralyzed. We are deaf. It may manifest in different ways and degrees, but we are. We all need to be comforted in our afflictions, counselled in our anxiety and worries. We need to be forgiven for our mistakes, sins, and regrets that burden us with guilt and shame. We all need healing.
Two of my dear friends need healing from toxic relationships with family members. Heck, I needed healing from an estranged relationship with my brother.
The Bible story about the woman who suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years – she didn’t need a lot of attention. Her ego was in check. She was filled with faith and humility, and she simply believed enough to touch Jesus’ robe. Her faith completely healed her.
My question is: what would she have believed if she could have received Jesus in the Eucharist at a Sunday or weekday Mass– Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity– that we Catholics so often take for granted?
Jesus was not always healing. He is always healing. I don’t know what form your need for healing takes, but I do know who can do the healing: Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, the Son of God, the Alpha and the Omega, the Light of the World, the only source of real truth in the world, the God-Man who wants to do good things for us — more than we want them for ourselves — the healer of our souls.
What would happen if you went to church next Sunday looking for healing in the same way the hemorrhagic woman sought Jesus out to be healed? What would happen if you brought that broken, difficult part of your life to Jesus in the Eucharist? Do you believe Jesus can heal you? Don’t worry about whether He will or not for now. Just focus on believing that He can.
Jesus has the power not only to heal but also to forgive sins. He came to heal the whole person– soul and body. He is the doctor the sick need. Ask Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass to heal you.
And then, trust– by acknowledging that God is in control, He has the plan, and He will provide it to us if we ask Him to. One of the ways to grow in trust is to become more trustworthy. The gift of trust in God is always a tranquil soul.
Deep breath. Well, there is a lot here to think about. Thank you all for reading this post today. Please take these words to prayer. I’m hoping that over this Thanksgiving season, we will all consider this “food for thought,” inspired by Matthew Kelly.
Happy Thanksgiving, By My Side followers.
Love always,
MJ xo
Recent Comments