What needs healing the most?

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
March 16, 2010

Today's Readings:
Ezek 47:1-9, 12
Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
John 5:1-3, 5-16
http://www.usccb.org/nab/031610.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_03_16.mp3

What needs healing the most?

In scripture, flowing water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Thus, today's first reading tells us that wherever the Holy Spirit flows, the people thrive and their faith multiplies and spreads. We need the flow of God's Spirit in our lives to overcome stubborn sinful tendencies and to become distributors of true faith.

This is more important than the healing of our bodies. In the Gospel passage, Jesus connects healing to holiness: "You have been cured. Give up your sins so that something worse may not overtake you." He is less concerned about the man's physical well-being as he is his spiritual health.

I could tell you many stories about miraculous healings that I've experienced or witnessed, but is this really what matters? Often, while focusing on our need for physical healings, we forget to ask the Holy Spirit to help us with our need for spiritual healings. We want easy cures, not the painful work of purification.

Often, physical ailments are the results of spiritual ailments. However, even when there is no direct correlation between sin and illness, we must always remember that the need for physical healing – while important – is a lesser priority than the healing of our souls. At the time of death, we will leave behind the illnesses of the flesh, but we will carry the ailments of our souls into eternity, thus requiring purgatory for the completion of our healing.

The more we work on developing our holiness here and now, the healthier our souls become. Observe the alternative: By requesting a physical miracle without giving up our sins, something worse overtakes us: Our souls deteriorate, our lives fall apart, and we live in misery and loneliness. We blame others for our ills and brood in self-pity ("Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; someone else gets there before me.")

Every Mass holds lots of multiple opportunities for healing. The prayers, the scriptures, the community with whom we gather, and the Eucharist all provide healing. The cure begins when we identify our sins and seek forgiveness. It reaches the high point when we earnestly declare, "Lord! I am indeed not worthy, but say the word, say yes to my repentance, and I truly shall be healed!"

The Eucharist is a communion with the Body of Christ, which means it heals division and brokenness within the Body of Christ, which means that to experience unity with Christ we must first forgive those who have sinned against us.

Thus our souls are healed by the time Mass ends. Every Mass is a healing service. Every moment of Mass is an encounter with Jesus the Healer through the power of the Holy Spirit who helps us overcome our sinful tendencies and leads us deeper into holiness.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Seeking a past reflection?
Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.

WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?
To sign up for your own subscription, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections


Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?
Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...

Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!

Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

______________________________________________________________
This is the "Good News Reflections - American Edition" mailing list.
MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:
Change your address
Unsubscribe