-Last Sunday's homily is available by email
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-Check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishlincletter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 5:30 Sat, 9:30 and 11:00 on Sunday
Healed or Cured?
A scholars has expressed a distinction regarding Jesus' miracles and mission in Mark's Gospel that he describes as "curing" and "healing". Basically, what Jesus does in the synagogue last week and in Peter's house this week is miraculous cures. Physical, psychological, spiritual cures are astounding people and revealing Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God (story 1). The symptom of these cures is pretty obvious - the removal of that thing that is afflicting the body from full function in the world.
But Jesus reveals that his mission and purpose is not to cure but to heal (the root word of which is "salus" from which we get the words "salve" and of course "salvation").
This healing that Jesus has come to accomplish is that of liberating humanity from the self-imposed prison of alienation, self-centeredness, autonomy, isolation, antagonism, from and with God and neighbor. Jesus has come to heal us by restoring our relationships, humanity with God and brothers and sisters with one another. The symptom of this healing is self-sacrificing service (I have come not to be served but to serve).
Peter's mother-in-law is a perfect example of one who is cured AND healed, liberated and saved, because she gets up immediately when Jesus takes her by the hand and she serves. Sel-sacrificing love is the symptom of salvation in God's reign. Service is the coin of the realm.
This is world marriage day. I think we have all kinds of marriages: broken marriages, sick marriages, cured marriages and healed marriages. In what category does yours fall? How can you tell?
Have your ever experienced a cure? Was it also a healing? How can we tell? Did it result in more loving service of God and neighbor? There's your answer.
4 comments:
I’m intrigued with this distinction between healing and curing. As I reflect on times of experiencing each in my life, I think that there other signs that go along with “healing” that can help identify it as evidence of God’s grace. The signs that come to mind are things like joy, peace, patience, kindness… and they are all fruits of the Holy Spirit. I think that fits with the depths of effect that would go along with what you’re describing as “healing”. Because this kind of healing is more than removing “what ails me”. It is living more fully – embracing and celebrating the life of God in our midst.
A marriage made in Heaven . . . still.
Wooooo-whoooooo, this is RICH preaching ... Made me read more of the chapters of Job ... Poor Job didn't realize when he was dwelling on himself he was all misery!!! When he talks about God, another story.
To be healed , we must work in a partnership with God. A restoration of the soul to its original purity. A recovery of the divine nature, the renewal of souls after the image of God.
To be cured is passive to be healed by someone else. To be healed takes action, the work we do internally - spiritually- the outcome is loving God in all that is done; taking responsiblility as working intune with God.
Our creator is seeking the healing and restoration of the whole creation so that we may come into communion with God and with one another. Salvation as healing is a fundamental aspect of God's mission. Essential to this vision of redemption and liberation is human responsibility and accountability in transforming relationships of brokenness; a total meaningfulness and by being co-creators with God.
Our self-imposed prison is made by our immaturity, selfishness, and fear--fear of change. We all have immaturities and are selfish -the origin of most sin. When we let go of self it then turns into selfless. When we empty ourself we can fill ourself with Christ. When we are spiritually well we are whole- and then we are more able to turn our attention in serving others. Then a metamorphosis of the selfish transforms into the selfless, we are then able to give more of our spirit - shining our light and the love of God on others- giving spiritual life .
My marriage is pure bliss, a gift from God that I thank God for having this beautiful selfless person in my life every day.
I pray for others that they may have no fear and accept the love of others and learn God's lessons of healing.
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