Readings
for Epiphany 5B:
Mark
1:29-39; 1 Kings 4:8-37
February 5, 2006
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
“And Jesus cured many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons.” [Mark 1] In today’s readings from the Holy Scriptures, we hear stories about specific incidents of healing. It is this very important ministry of healing and wholeness that I would like to address in today’s sermon.
On most Mondays (i.e. my day off), I like to catch up with what is happening in the broader world by reading newspapers, listening to the news, and flicking through the television stations while ironing my black shirts. Here is what I learned this past Monday: A new born baby was found alive after having been removed from a plastic bag that was floating in a river. Families are still trying to sue UC Medical School in Irvine CA after two doctors stole embryos out of women who were undergoing fertility treatments. Exxon Oil Corporation received over 10 billion dollars in profits in the last quarter of 2005. A mother was accused of murdering her 11 year old daughter for neglecting to properly manage the girl’s diabetes. Saddam Hussein and his defense team were removed from court for being verbally abusive. Some teenage girls, under the age of 16, are having unprotected sex in order to purposely have a baby that they know they cannot afford. It is into this “fallen” world of woundedness, alienation, and sickness, that we read about Jesus’ healing ministry.
In today’s gospel story, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law who is with fever. The medical details are scarce but we are told that Jesus took her by the hand and lifted her up. The fever then left her and she began to serve them. The word lifted up is the same Greek word that is used to describe “God’s raising up Jesus” from the dead. In other words, this raising up connotes a spirit-filled power that can do more than we could ever hope or imagine.
Now many feminists are offended by this story, supposing that the mother-in-law was healed of her fever because Jesus and his disciples needed something to eat. Imagine having a fever and then having to get up and make dinner for a bunch of hungry men? However, to literally interpret this story with 21st century eyes, does a disservice to the honor and privilege it was to show hospitality to guests in 1st century Palestine. It also misses the point. When we read the Holy Scriptures, we need to understand the context in which it was written as well as discern what the spirit of truth (that is behind the text) might be telling us today. Both tasks are necessary if the Scriptures are to be transformative in our lives.
During his lifetime, Jesus was known primarily as a healer and exorcist. It was his gift of healing that attracted the large crowds, not his prophetic teachings. People flocked to him, drawn by his wonder-working reputation as one who could restore a person to wholeness and health. Healing was clearly one of his major gifts. The gospels contain many narratives of his healing ministry: leprosy, fever, hemorrhage, deafness, dumbness, blindness, dropsy, severed ear, paralysis, and a near death sickness. In additions to these physical healings, Jesus healed spiritual and psychological ailments as well as exorcised demons. These stories create a vivid impression of a charismatic healer who experienced the Spirit of God flowing through him with great power. And because he readily shared these gifts of healing, he collected around him, an audience to whom he could preach, teach, and lay out a new vision of reality called the Kingdom of God. Jesus was full of grace and truth.
Now many of these accounts of healing pose some difficulty for the modern mind. The modern mind concludes that if it is not reasonable or cannot be explained in scientific terms, then it is probably not true. Of course, as we enter into the post-modern period, people are embracing alternative paths to medicine and healing. They are more open to the power of the Spirit, embracing that which works rather than only that which makes scientific sense to the mind. Of course, this is not an either/or option. Both can be important for healing. Let me tell you a story about one of my healings that converted me from my narrow stance of embracing only “western medicine” options.
Twenty years ago, out of the blue, I became fatigued, run down, and had difficulty breathing. After 10 days of feeling bad, I went to the doctor who diagnosed my ailment as a straightforward case of bronchitis. Having never had bronchitis before and intuiting that it didn’t make sense, I took my prescription for antibiotics home and pondered what I should do next. I knew that a course of antibiotics was not the right treatment but I had no scientific reason to doubt the doctor’s conclusion.
I then called a friend of mine who was a compassionate soul and who also had good insight. She asked me to verbalize what I was holding back- what I was afraid to say out loud-what it was that was choking in my throat. For the next ten minutes, I let out my deepest feelings and grief, past grudges and present fears. Much of the pain that had been bottled up in my sub-conscious came to the surface and was purged. Exhausted, I then went to sleep and woke up early the next morning. No cough, no congestion, no fatigue, no difficulty breathing. A healing had taken place and I was able to see life from a different perspective. This was a moment of grace.
Was my illness psychosomatic? Was it spiritual? Was it physical? What exactly did my friend do? Did she have magical powers or was I simply superstitious? My healing took place because I had the right treatment for the right ailment. Magic? No. My friend simply took the time to be with me and readily shared her gift of insight to a person who was unable to see for herself, the spiritual chaos inside. One of the things that we have forgotten is that the body, mind, and spirit are interconnected. If there is a problem in one of these areas, there is a good chance that it could affect the other areas.
There is within our Christian tradition, a great emphasis on healing. I am delighted that the Episcopal Church is recovering this emphasis. The process of salvation is the process of moving towards healing and wholeness. Within our communion, there are many people who are willing to share their gifts of healing. My hunch is, that most of you have some gift that you can offer for the healing of this world. Some of you have the gift of faith, spending time in prayer for the well being of others. Some of you are doctors, nurses, technicians, and therapists, using your knowledge and skills to help those who are in pain. Others, like Jesus, have charismatic gifts of healing, being channels of God’s grace and power. Some of you are good organizers, arranging for rides, meals, and outreach services. Some of you simply offer your time to sit and listen to someone in need or drive people to appointments. Still others, offer the sacraments as visible signs of God’s grace. Whatever gifts of healing you may have, Christ encourages you to use them generously. Offering healing to others is perhaps the best method of evangelism (i.e. inviting others to follow the path of love that Jesus showed us).
Here are some final thoughts about the ministry of health and healing to which we are called:
“O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.” [Public Service of Healing, Book of Occasional Services]
| Updated 2/14/06 |
|