There is a danger when we read a comment from Scripture such as when Jesus, “cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons” (Mk 1:34). The danger is that we may not believe we are capable of healing like Jesus so we don’t do anything active with our faith. We also might think that Jesus is divine, so of course there is no way we can measure up to what he has done. An even worse line of thought would be to disbelieve that the healings of Jesus happened at all, that they are all made up, and they never really happened.
What we need to keep in perspective is that Jesus had a specific mission to accomplish, and yes he was divine, but what I shared over and over again through the Christmas Season was that he was also fully human. He had a specific mission from his Father, for his Apostles, and he has one for us as well. Jesus himself proclaimed: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father” (Jn 14:12). Not only does Jesus say we can do works such as these but even greater ones! Jesus has a plan for our life, a part for us to play, and he will empower us with that which we need to accomplish his goals.
Another challenge can be pride. We may want to heal like Jesus, for the purpose of our own aggrandizement, so people look at us, not God. That was the sin of Simon the magician, who saw the Apostles healing, just as Jesus had, and offered payment to them for the power to accomplish the same (cf. Acts 8:9-25). The other problem is wanting to do something grandiose before we are ready, or doing something beyond our own unique gift and charism.
There is a charism of healing in the Church. I do not have it, but I know God heals through others. What is more important in our lives of discipleship is surrendering our will to God’s will and aligning ourselves with the vocation he calls us to complete. There is some way for all of us to contribute. Throughout the Bible we can view how it is that God invites, and begins with those he invites in very small and humble ways – Jesus himself began his days on this earth wrapped in swaddling clothes in a feeding trough, as vulnerable and humble a beginning as there can be!
May we begin today with a moment of prayer, coming to a place of quiet and stillness, and asking God to direct us in our daily encounters and actions to make Jesus present to others, as well as for the willingness to see Jesus in others. Then let us be open to those opportunities of interruptions, needs that arise, people in our midst that simply need our presence, a smile, an active listening ear. There is so much need we won’t have to look very far. We just need to be open and willing to receive God’s guidance and courage to act when he presents us with the opportunities to do so, to love, to will the good of others in our midst.
Photo: Cardinal Newman Chapel, where I begin each day of the school year seeking God’s guidance and courage
Link to Mass readings for Wednesday, January 10, 2018:
Spiritual Stepping Stones 