Jesus Heals Our Pain and Sickness

02-07-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Tony Okolo CSSp

In the gospel passage of last Sunday, Jesus was seen in the Synagogue teaching with authority and casting out demons from a man under demonic influence and possession. In that, He demonstrates His power over evil forces and demons. In today’s gospel reading He demonstrates His power over pain and sickness. We read that “when He came into Peter’s house, the mother-in- law of Peter was sick with fever and immediately they told Him of her. And He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up and the fever left her.” This action reveals some amazing qualities of Jesus.

First, He was always prepared to heal in every little or serious situation. It does not matter how small or serious the sickness is, He is ever ready to lift us from it. He does not need any extra funfair to heal. He heals both in the private homes and in the public places. His main concern is that we are made well and whole. He was never too tired to help those who need His assistance. Again, the need of others took precedence over His own desire and rest. A miracle to Jesus was not a means of increasing His prestige; to help was not a laborious duty for Him, He helped instinctively, because He was supremely interested in all who needed His help.

We see also in this passage that after Jesus had healed the mother-in-law of Peter, they brought to Him all who were ill or possessed by demons and He cured them. What we learn from this action is to take our troubles and worries to Jesus. As a popular Christian hymn says, “Take it to the Lord in prayer” The moment we take our anxiety, troubles, and problems to Him we are bound to find rest and comfort in His hand. Jesus is right here with us and will always welcome us when we come to Him. Let us not ever grow weak or tired of taking our troubles to Him.

The experience of Job in the first reading can sometimes be our own experience when we are suffering and feel abandoned and deserted by God. But in the case of Job He still believes that God is just despite His suffering and trust in the goodness of God. The story of Job teaches us patience in times of troubles and adversity because God does not abandon us. Job remained firm and at last God lifted Him up. In the same way, He will lift us up from our own troubles. God’s plan is not to spare us from difficult times. His plan is to be with us in our struggles and difficulties. The true test of a Christian comes in the crosses of our lives. Our actions in times of distress tell God whether we want Jesus with us or whether we just want to be spared of the adversity. If we know Jesus is with us, we can face adversity with hope and patience. With the prophet Habakkuk we declare in hope, “For though the fig tree blossom not nor fruit be on the vines, though the yield of the olive fail and the terraces produce no nourishment, though the flock disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord and exult in my serving God. God my Lord is my strength. Job looked up to heaven in His misery and saw the Lord himself. Knowing God was with Him made all the difference for Job. To know Jesus and be aware of His abiding presence with us gives hope. To lose sight of Jesus is to give up hope. Fix your eyes on Jesus the only hope you need and He will give you His grace to hang on and deliver you from your worries and pain.

Happy Sunday to you all and may the Lord our God be your strength to lift you up from pain and sickness.

BACK TO LIST