Jesus’ Healing Ministry

It is inspiring to meditate on the miracles performed by Jesus. Most powerful are the miracles we will hear during the next two weeks. The 4th and 5th Sunday or Ordinary Time Mass readings draw us into the deeper mystery of the healing ministry of Christ, where we see Jesus casting out, curing the sick and teaching, all with a “new authority” (Mk 1:27).

Teaching

After the call of the first disciples the Gospel of St. Mark immediately dives into the ministry of Jesus, as he and the apostles enter the synagogue at Capernaum. Here we find Jesus, teaching as “one having authority” (Mk 1:21-28). Why is this significant? Comparatively speaking, as the scribes taught, they referenced a reputable rabbi, sort of name-dropping for lack of better analogy. Hence, a scribe never taught from their own authority but always by the authority or teaching from another rabbi. As Jesus taught, he referenced no one. He spoke by the authority given to him by God. It was unheard of. The people were “astonished” yet unable to recognize Jesus beyond a new rabbi. Yet, who in this account did recognize and identify Jesus? 

Casting out

It is rare we experience the casting out of a demon. Honestly, I cannot even watch movies in their entirety when they are about exorcisms. As a child my anxiety levels increased as I heard the stories of Jesus casting out demons. It was not that I was fearful of Jesus but rather fearful of the reality that demons do exist. With Jesus, I realized as I grew older, there was nothing to fear. Without Jesus, as I experienced, there was all to fear.

Casting out demons is bizarre upon first hearing. What is most incredible is the unclean spirit in this account recognizes who Jesus really is, “the holy one of God” (Mk 1:24). How is this possible? Because this unclean spirit immediately knows Jesus has power over it. Jesus reveals his power and authority over evil, casts it out of the poor soul and what does the unclean spirit do? It flees. It “runs” because it knows and recognizes the power of God. Ask yourself, what is possessing, owning or taking hold over me? Have I sought help from Jesus asking for protection over the evil one?

Sick with fever

Moreover, Jesus not only combats demonic possessions and casts out evil, he also heals physical infirmities. Immediately following this event, Jesus enters Simon’s house, along with Andrew, James and John. He is told Simon’s mother-in-law is sick with fever. Jesus, having a mother he loved, went to Simon’s mother-in-law, held her hand and helped her up. She was free from fever. Jesus healed her. And like any great mother-in-law, she fed them. What a powerful encounter with Jesus. Of course, word spread throughout the entire region of the miracles and all brought to Jesus those they knew who were possessed and sick. All were healed. 

Paragraph 447 of The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Throughout his public life, (Jesus) demonstrated his divine sovereignty by works of power over nature, illnesses, demons, death and sin.” Pause for a moment. Whom have I “brought” to Jesus for healing? When have I experienced the healing power of God?

Jesus’ healing ministry for us

The sacraments of healing (reconciliation and anointing of the sick) were instituted by Christ as a continuation of his healing ministry for the faithful. By the grace and power of the Holy Spirit we are able to participate in both. We read in CCC #1514, “The anointing of the sick ‘is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.’ ”

Effects of sacrament of healing

“The special grace of the sacrament of the anointing of the sick has as its effects: the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole church; the strengthening, peace and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance; the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul; the preparation for passing over to eternal life” (CCC#1532).

Year of St Joseph

The Litany of St. Joseph contains the phrase “St. Joseph, Terror of Demons, pray for us.”  St. John Paul II writes, “It is thus fitting and most worthy of Joseph’s dignity that, in the same way that he once kept unceasing holy watch over the family of Nazareth, so now does he protect and defend with his heavenly patronage the Church of Christ.” (“On the Person and Mission of Saint Joseph in the Life of Christ and of the Church” para. 44). May St. Joseph protect us from all evil and lead us on a path of holy comfort and peace. Amen. JMJ

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.