February 5, 2018

Gospel: Mk 6:53-56
Having crossed the lake, they came ashore at Gennesaret, where they tied up the boat. As soon as they landed, people recognized Jesus, and ran to spread the news throughout the countryside. Wherever he was, they brought to him the sick lying on their mats; and wherever he went, to villages, towns or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplace, and begged him to let them touch just the fringe of his cloak. And all who touched him were cured.

Reflections
ALL WHO TOUCHED HIM WERE
CURED
One aspect of Christ’s ministry that is not often emphasized is his healing ministry. Pope Francis, however, makes it the essence of the Gospel when he said that the task of the Church is not to make moral and dogmatic pronouncements but to HEAL THE WOUNDS AND TOUCH THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE. All of us need healing at one time or the other, some from physical disease, others from spiritual and psychological wounds, and others from both. God has given some people the gift of healing both physical and spiritual wounds. In our own way, even if we are not given this extraordinary gift of healing, we can still do our part in our own small way in our own limited circle. Someone we know just lost a loved one. Staying with this person, listening and offering a shoulder to cry on helps in the healing of this person’s grief. When we forgive someone who hurt us, we not only heal this person, we heal ourselves also. When we empathize with people who fail, when we are there to console them, it heals the wound to their self-esteem. And when we do these, it is like making the persons suffering touch the hand of Christ who is the one who actually heals them.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2018