Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Easter: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 38; Evening, Psalm 119:25 to 48;
Daniel 5:1 to 12; 1st John 5:1 to 12; Luke 4:38 to 44:
“As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them.” (Luke 4:40)
Just before the above passage, Jesus cured the mother-in-law of Peter. This healing is probably what prompted others to bring their sick to Jesus. Our Lord Jesus was a prolific healer, still is. Maybe we should call him “Doctor J.” I’m just kidding with my ponderings.
Healing our bodies was a secondary duty that Jesus performed. He proclaims that his primary responsibility is to spread the word about the Good News. We read, “But he said to them, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” (Luke 4:43)
Jesus was both sent, and he sends. All who profess themselves to be Christians are sent by our Lord Jesus to spread the word about the kingdom of God. I don’t believe that spreading the word about the kingdom of God means indoctrinating others to be Christians also. But rather, it means spreading the word about this temporal existence and informing people about the eternal life possible through a life dedicated to God by loving God and loving all others. After hearing about the Good News, people must decide for themselves the path that best fits them.
While Doctor J. was a healer, He is even more a Prophet in the sense that he is a seer. Perhaps it was easier for Jesus to speak of the kingdom of God given that he was in the kingdom of God before he came to be among us. It is always easier to talk about what we know than what we believe. But, believing is where we must start.
I know medical doctors who are also very faithful Christians. They pray, and they heal, in that order. Luke, the author of the Gospel account from which we are reading today was also a physician. Maybe Luke’s vocation made him more aware of Jesus as a physician also. Either way, Luke puts bodily healing in its proper place behind faith healing. We must hear about the Good News regarding the kingdom of God and strive to get there regardless of our bodily condition. Like Peter’s mother in law, once we are healed we should serve. The Christian call is a call to serve, (Luke 4:39). Serving others is the evidence of our love for others.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, South Sudan and our schools.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 