January 4, 2021

In Need of HealingBy Sister Jane DeLisle, CSJ

“His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought him all wo were sick withvarious diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics,

and paralytics, and he cured them.”Matthew 4:24

How quickly the scriptures of the Christmas season moved on to the active lifeof Jesus! We just celebrated the birth of Jesus and the coming of the Magiannouncing that Jesus has come into the world for everyone. Born like allbabies, a sweet, innocent child of God. Long gone are the shepherds, angelsong, and princely visitors. However, the radiance of God’s loving face endures.

The intent of the incarnation is to witness to the ever-present love ofGod for all of creation. Jesus, the radiant face of God is the compassion,

mercy, love, and forgiveness. Jesus turns the power-hungry ways of the worldand the inequality and greed of humanity upside down. He shows us God’sradiant face and splendid ways.

Today, in the first reading (1 John 3:22-4:6) we are urged to “do what pleasesGod.” And to please God, we need to “test the spirits to know which are fromGod.” Testing spirits is best done by living by the artful grace of spiritualdiscernment. This way of viewing the world as God’s own, calls us to firstattend to the good of all.

I ask myself, “Are my decisions and actions loving, kind, inclusive and life-giving for everyone? Or am I living from a place of self-centered entitlementwhile irresponsibly demanding my rights and preferences over those of others,with little consideration for the common good?”

In the Gospel, Jesus is engaged in ministry. ALL are welcome. So many are illin body, mind, and spirit. The litany of afflictions is never ending. The love ofGod is revealed in the compassionate and generous manner of Jesus who healseach person who comes to him. Nothing of the human condition surprises him.Nothing puts him off. Rather, he is moved with love and compassion as hegazes upon the afflicted one. Each is a child of God. Each seeks help for all thatails them. Each is a person who believes that Jesus wants wholeness and lifefor them. The reality of our own lives is not much different. There are millions dyingaround the world from COVID-19 while many, including me, live in fear ofinfection. People are dreadfully ill with countless other ailments of body, mind,AND spirit. People suffer, not only from physical ills, but afflicted with mentaldistortions: actual psychological diagnosis, moral dis-ease of sin, blinded bydeceit, self-centeredness, greed, and the hunger for power and control. Weneed the radiance of God’s loving face upon us now.

Photo by Lily Banse from Unsplash

For Pondering

I ask for the insight and healing to place myself and my dis-ease before God.

How do I discern the “spirits” at work in me and in our society?

When have I (and do I) considered the effect of my choices on others?

What distress do I carry in my body, mind, spirit? I ask for the insight andhealing to place myself and this ailment before God for healing.

Prayer

Please, Jesus, no matter the wound, heal each one of us from all that hindersthe fullness of God-life within us. God of healing and compassion, I desire to

be in your presence and give you my mind and heart. Heal every ill I bear, all

the suffering of my heart, and the ache in my soul. Show me the way to loveas you love. I pray for the gift of discerning to know the heart of Jesus and tolive with a heart of compassion toward all who come to me. Sacred Heart of

Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Amen.

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