Jesus heals the sick not only from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, schizophrenia, arthritis, etc., but also heals for evangelization and ministry. In today's Gospel reading, Jesus healed Simon's mother-in-law from a fever and for immediate service (Lk 4:39). However, many sick people, like healthy people, are not that interested in evangelization and ministry. They just want to get better and leave it at that. They are probably willing to do a few good deeds, but don't see themselves witnessing for Jesus in public. Furthermore, they don't want to get so involved in ministry that their lifestyle would have to change. Many Christian sick people want to live not much differently than non-Christian sick people do.
This presents a problem. Jesus calls His followers to a radically different way of life. He wants our priorities to be evangelization and ministry, since those are His priorities. Because He loves us and His people so much, Jesus wants us to get up immediately and wait on His people (Lk 4:39). He calls us to seek first His kingdom and everything else will be given to us (Mt 6:33). Healing is not only changing the condition of our bodies, but primarily changing our minds to be in accord with Jesus.
| PRAYER: | Father, give me the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). |
| PROMISE: | "He it was who told us of your love in the Spirit." –Col 1:8 |
| PRAISE: | After being healed, Sarah gave witness to the love and power of Jesus to friends, strangers, doctors, nurses and other patients. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College