Welcome to the 6th sermon in a series called In the Steps of the Master. This week we are looking at Healing Fragmented People and Communities. In other words, when we pray “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done”, we are acknowledging that this world was made perfect, but it is far from perfect now. On this Remembrance Sunday, we remember that communities across the world are still torn apart by selfishness and sin. As we look at the lives of individuals, we see illness, stress, loneliness, addiction. Even in our own lives, we may be bravely carrying on, while facing tremendous, almost crippling, challenges.
We may be praying people, but we are tempted sometimes to think: does God heal today? Is he interested in me and the ones I care about?
The leper expressed doubt that he might be healed. He seems to have believed that Jesus had the power, but he is not sure that Jesus will use it. Perhaps he is too unimportant? Or perhaps Jesus will take seriously the injunctions of the law not to be made unclean by touching a leper.
The way that Jesus responds tells us much about him and reveals the heart of God.
Mark tells us that Jesus responds with emotion. The scholars argue about the Greek here; either Jesus was moved with a deep sense of compassion and pity, or he expressed anger and sorrow. Either way, he was not standing there, robed in immaculate white, slightly distant. He is deeply troubled at the man’s predicament, or he is angry that there might be any doubt that he would want to help. In either case, he is involved, caring, and he shows this by his next incredible move.
A touch! At a time and in a society when you would do anything to avoid contact with a leper, Jesus reaches out and touches him. He pierces the isolation and loneliness that surrounds him.
A word. And he does speak, first to give healing, and then to restore the man to his place in his community. Jesus is bringing him Shalom, wholeness, completeness, integration, peace. Not just his skin, but the whole man must be healed, and the community he came from that has been deprived of him.
Let me share with you an excerpt from the Venerable Bede concerning bishop John of Hexham. Bede describes a remote place where the bishop and a group of fellow Christians would retire for prayer and reading, especially in Lent. “On one occasion when he had come there to stay at the beginning of Lent, he told his followers to seek out some poor man who was afflicted by some serious illness or in dire need to have with them during these days and to benefit from their charity; for this was his constant custom. There was in a village not far away a dumb youth known to the bishop, who often used to come to him to receive alms and had never been able to utter a single word. Besides he had so much scabbiness and scurf on his head that no hair could grow on the crown save for a few rough hairs which stuck out around it. The bishop had this young man brought and ordered a little hut to be built for him in the enclosure of their dwelling in which he could stay and receive his daily allowance. On the second Sunday in Lent he ordered the poor man to come in to him and then he told him to put out his tongue and show to him. Thereupon he took him by the chin and made the sign of the holy cross on his tongue; after this he told him to put his tongue in again and say something. “Say some word” he said, “Say gae” which in English is the word of assent and agreement, that is “Yes”. He said at once what the bishop told him to, the bonds of his tongue being unloosed. The bishop then added the names of the letters; “Say A”, and he said it, “B” and he said that too. When he had repeated the names of the letter after the bishop, the latter added syllables and words for him to repeat. When he had repeated them all, one after the other, the bishop taught him to say longer sentences, which he did. After that those who were present relate that he never ceased all that day and night, as long as he could keep awake, to talk and to reveal the secrets of his thoughts and wishes to others which he could never do before. He was like the man who had long been lame, who, when healed by the Apostles Peter and John, stood up, leapt and walked entering the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God, rejoicing to have the use of his feet of which he had been so long deprived. The bishop rejoiced with his cure and ordered the physician to undertake to heal his scabby head. did as he was bidden and with the help of the bishop’s blessing and prayers his skin was healed and he grew a beautiful head of hair.”
Five brief observations on this story:
First, it took place within the context of a praying community. The bishop and his followers had taken time out for prayer and fasting. How do we know whom we should persevere in prayer and faith for? There may have been many sick around at the time, but as the bishop and his helpers spent time in prayer, they were led to this particular one at this particular time. Do you remember that Jesus went very early to a solitary place and prayed?
Second, the sacrament of touch. When Bishop John healed this man he took him by the chin and made the sign of the cross on his tongue. Now it is perfectly possible to heal without touching, by simply praying, but there is something very powerful about touch. This is especially the case when people have been made outcasts by their illness - there are a number of stories from this period involving plague victims. The touch or even kiss of the healer was a brave demonstration of faith - and yes they did know how contagious it was. I am a big fan of technology, but texts and Facebook are no substitute for real contact with another person. That is why physically sharing the Peace is so appreciated by some.
Third, pragmatism. Bishop John prays for an instant cure, but also gives the time and effort to practice and hard work. Would we call this physiotherapy? All healing is a move towards wholeness, and some comes quickly, while other requires a dogged plodding.
Fourth, the bishop saw no distinction between spiritual and physical healing. Having seen the man’s dumbness healed miraculously he refers him to the physician for his scabby scalp to be put right. All true healing comes from God, however it is mediated. This is because part of the wholeness to which we are journeying is a restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This means that methods of healing which rely on occult powers are not true healing, however methods that are faith-neutral or positively Christian are true healing. So when I get a headache I say a prayer and take a Paracetemol.
Finally, restoration of community. No longer isolated by his condition, the young man, like the leper in Mark’s Gospel, was able to be restored to his came from and loved, and to be of use to them..
St Michael’s aspires to be a growing community of faith. I believe that we should be open, welcoming, and provide a safe environment where we can offer friendship, a listening ear, practical care and transforming prayer. Who knows? The one finding healing might be me, or you?
Discussion Starters
1. How would you define health and healing?
2. Think back to a time when you were ill how did it make you feel - assuming you are now, at least to some degree better, how did you receive healing?
3. In what ways do you pray for healing for yourself or others?
4. Do you believe God heals miraculously today - have you any personal experience of this?
5. What do you think are the hindrances to healing? How might they be overcome?
6. In what ways are you already involved in bringing healing to others?
7. I have spoken of the importance of community in healing — have you any experiences that relate to this?
8. In what ways can we view church as being a therapeutic community?
9. How can we care better for those who are struggling to find wholeness in life?
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