Healed to Heal!

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

1 Cor 3:1-9; Lk 4:38-44

Today’s Gospel shows that health and wellness represent the Kingdom of God. 

Why is Jesus a healer? Why is his mission mostly about restoring the sick to health? 

The healing mission is an impeccable example of the Kingdom wherein the forces of death, sickness, and evil are brought under God’s control. 

Luke’s description of Peter’s mother-in-law as suffering from a ‘severe fever’ is a deliberate intensification of the sickness so that we may understand the power of Jesus’ word that drives it away.

Moreover, by assuming her social obligations immediately after her cure, Peter’s mother-in-law exemplifies the vision of Jesus that the Kingdom people are ‘healed to heal’ others.

Jesus’ public ministry demonstrates the Kingdom motto, which is ‘Everyone for the Other.’ Hence, the followers of Jesus participate in a relay race in which we run only to transmit to our successors what we have carried thus far. 

When everyone does their part, the Kingdom vision becomes a reality. 

In the way we work for and promote health and wellness, others will witness the Christian message of healing. 

Let us pray for the grace to do our part to advance the Kingdom’s message of health and wellness!

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar