After making the crossing to the other side of the sea,
Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret
and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
They scurried about the surrounding country
and began to bring in the sick on mats
to wherever they heard he was.
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,
they laid the sick in the marketplaces
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;
and as many as touched it were healed.
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.This reading speaks to the fullest nature of Jesus. He at the very basic level is a healer. He wants to heal all of our ailments, and take away all of our pain. Even touching the tassle of His cloak, whether He is aware of it or not, brings healing. The fact that this is even possible speaks to His fullest nature as a healer.
During the three years of His public ministry Jesus did three things when He encountered the lost, sick and afflicted: He preached, healed the sick, and drove out demons. These are three parts of the same thing.
Preaching heals the soul, and it is also a form of driving out deamons because they hate the truth. Healing is also a form of preaching, because action speak louder than words. And it is also drives out deamons, because demons envy our bodies and our health. Driving out demons is a form of preaching, because exorcism proves the divine reality. and it is also a form of healing becuase it heals the soul. All three represent aspect of each other.
These three ministries preaching, healing, and exorcising — are three dimensions of one and the same thing: They are the three ways in which Christ endeavored to heal our minds, bodies, and souls so as to bring us into full communion with Him.
But why doesn’t He just snap his fingers and heal everyone. I suspect that is because if we do not participate in the process, then the sin and disfunction that caused the illness in the first place, will just return, and the healing will not last. We must come to the lord with an earnest desire to be healed, and a sincere interest in changing.
But when that does happen, then God will pour out His healing love on you. But you must want it, and humbly ask for it. The Lord will not force Himself upon you, you have free will and He will always respect that. So start today, choose to change, and choose to be better, and ask the Lord for His help.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh lord, give me the courage to change, and humility to ask for your help. I want to be better, and I need your help to do so. Amen.