Jesus' Ministry of Healing the Sick

Healing the sick was an important part of Jesus' public ministry. It has been observed that wherever one turns in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' public ministry, one finds that Jesus is either healing, or has just healed, or is about to heal the sick. The healings and exorcisms effected by Jesus are signs that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and are an anticipated enjoyment of its blessings (Lk 11.20; Mt 12.28).

The beginning of Mark's Gospel describes what must have been a typical day in the ministry of Jesus. Notice what a prominent part was devoted to healing the sick. In the morning, Jesus attends a synagogue service during which He cures a man possessed by an unclean spirit (Mk 1.23-28). Immediately afterwards, He goes to Simon Peter's house and raises up Simon's mother-in-law who was stricken with fever (1.29-31). After sunset, He cures a large number of sick and possessed who were brought to Him from every side (1.32-34). The chapter closes with the cure of a leper (1.40-45) and with the remark that it was no longer possible for Jesus to enter a town openly because of the crowds. The next chapter begins with Jesus' curing a paralytic who had been let down through the roof (Mk 2.1-12). But first He pronounces the man forgiven of his sins, thus implying that there was a close connection between the man's bodily illness and sin (Mk 2.1-12).

In fact, Jesus makes it clear that it is more important to be cleansed from any spiritual ailment than to be healed physically in any way. What sins do we cling to? How are we in need of healing?

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Sincere Repentance

From a homily written in the second century:

We should repent of our sins while we are still on earth...we must wholeheartedly repent of sins committed in the body and make it possible for the Lord to save us while there is time. When we have left this world, we shall no longer be able to repent and confess our sins. We must do the will of the Father, keep our bodies pure, and observe the commandments of the Lord, for this is the way to obtain eternal life...In other words, in order to obtain eternal life, we must remain pure and keep the seal of our baptism undefiled.

...Our bodies are the temple of God, and as such we must guard them, for even as we were called in the body, so shall we also be judged in the body...
Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching

Penance IV

Jesus describes His own mission as being directed to sinners. When He had called the publican Levi to be one of His disciples and accepted an invitation to dine with Levi and his disreputable friends, the Pharisees were scandalized that Jesus should eat at the same table with notorious sinners and violators of the law. “Why does He eat with such as these?” Overhearing their remark Jesus said to them, “Healthy people do not need a doctor, sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not the self-righteous.” (Mk. 2.17)

A prominent part of Jesus’ teaching was devoted to revealing God’s mercy toward repentant sinners. For example, instead of curing the paralytic Jesus says to the sick man “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus thereby implies that sin is a greater affliction than sickness and that forgiveness of sin is more important than bodily healing. The scribes accused Jesus of blasphemy. Jesus says:

Why do you harbor these thoughts? Which is easier; to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven, or to say, Stand up, pick up your mat and walk again? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins I command you Stand! Pick up your mat and go home!

In Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching