Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Gospel – Luke 5:27-32

Heal Me!

Anointing Stone, Church of Holy Sepulchre

It’s impossible for me to read today’s Gospel (Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do) and not immediately think about the words of Pope Francis:

“The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds, heal the wounds. ... And you have to start from the ground up.

 “A Big Heart Open to God,” America magazine Sept. 19, 2013.

I wonder how often we delude ourselves and think – I am healthy!  I am not like those other ‘sick’ ones!  How often do we, consciously or unconsciously, put ourselves in the role of the Pharisees and look down on others from our ‘height of righteousness”.

Just a simple thought today!  Aren’t we all sinners?  Aren’t we all sick in some way and in need of healing.  And for someone who is injured and is suffering, doesn’t the healing need to be on a personal level?  When we are sick, don’t we try to sit down one on one with our physician and seek healing and counsel?  How much more so then that, when we are sick with worry and in need of forgiveness, we need to encounter God on a personal level!

May this Lenten season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving be an opportunity for us to not only encounter the Lord but feel His healing touch!

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