5^th Sunday of O.T.; February 4, 2018

Job 7:1-7;   Ps 147;   1 Cor 9:16-23;   Mk 1:29-39

Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison and SJB

 

            Pope Francis often describes the Church as a “field hospital” of wounded, broken, sinful people who are in need of healing. While it is difficult to admit, all of us are spiritually sick who need a spiritual physician who can heal us. If we don’t believe that, if we think we’ve got our act together, that we’re under control, then we will resist our radical dependency upon God. If we don’t think we’re spiritually sick, then we’re basically saying that we don’t really need Jesus, who said that “those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” do (Mk 2:17).

This Sunday’s Gospel presents us Jesus, who heals the sick: first Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, who was in bed with a fever. Jesus takes her by the hand, he touches her, and helped her to her feet. Then all the sick of Capernaum, broken in spirit and body, came and he “healed many…and cast out many demons” (1:34). All four evangelists agree that this liberation from illness and infirmity of every kind—together with preaching the Good News—was Jesus’ main activity in his pubic ministry.

Illness—whether it be physical, psychological, or spiritual—was not part of the world that God intended when he created Adam and Eve in the Garden, where they enjoyed an abundance of life in which sin, illness, and death were not part of the world of Creation. Illness was introduced after the Fall and is a sign of Evil in the world. Illness in general is a consequence of our sinful condition; it was introduced by us, not God. Healing, on the other hand, shows that the Kingdom of God, God himself, is at hand and at work making us well. Jesus came to overcome Evil at the very root and instances of healing are an anticipation of that triumph. In heaven there will be no more illness, suffering, or death. And, how is Evil overcome?—through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

The question is: do we want to be healed? All of us have been deeply wounded by others. When we experience this kind of hurt, we search for a way to deal with it, a way to protect the self and be safe. Whether its denial, fear, hatred, aggression, or shame, sometimes we’re not willing to give up these unhealthy responses; so we continue to be sick.

Sometimes we deal with our spiritual sickness by hanging out with people who reinforce my bad habits. “Tell me who you’re friends are, and I will tell you who you are” carries a lot of truth. We tend to talk and act like those around us. Our surroundings and environment can affect us profoundly. When we only associate with those who are stuck in their sin, then we open ourselves to the oppression that comes with rebellion and sin.

Sin is aided and abetted by evil spirits which operate under the direction of Satan. Unlike Jesus, The Prince of Lies does not want you to be joyful, to realize your eternal destiny. But for him to succeed he needs your cooperation. But, God also has a plan for your life. Do you long to be healed, to be reconciled, to be fulfilled? If we’ve built our lives on the foundation of a lie, then we need Jesus, who is the Truth, to expose that lie and to bring us back to health.

Brothers, let Jesus heal you. Each one of us knows where our wounds are. Each one of us has them; sadly, we just don’t have one: our sinful habits are interconnected; so, we have two, three, four…sometimes it feels like a Legion! Human effort alone cannot break this Gordian Knot.  But, Jesus, the Divine Physician, he can heal those wounds. But, for this to happen, we must open our heart to Jesus—we must let him in and find a home in the inner most depth of our soul. How do I open my heart? The starting point and foundation is by praying. But, one could say, “I can’t do that: I’ve done horrible things in my life. Or, I hate those who have harmed me. Or, I despise the people of that other group who are not part of my tribe. They dissed me and my group; so, I’ve got to protect myself and retaliate if necessary. “

Brothers, who are you going to give your heart to? Are you for Jesus or are you against him? If you’re for him, then let him heal your wound. Name it, renounce it, and give it to him. Ask him for the grace to be healed. He will do it because he is Immanuel—God among us—and he loves you unconditionally. Let him enter your life—your heart, your soul—and bring merciful salve to your brokenness.

Let Jesus heal you. Amen.