Catholic Corner
February 7, 2021

Jesus’ healing accounts need to be understood within the context of the time and the religious culture.  Healing was understood to be a sign of the presence of God.  Healing those who were sick was a miracle and miracles indicated that God was indeed present among the people.  Jesus healed the sick, he drove out demons, he raised the dead and all these miracles are understood to be indications that God was truly present.  Indeed, these miracle stories are directly tied to the heart of Jesus’ ministry, his preaching of the Kingdom of God.  Curing the sick, driving out demons, raising people from the dead, all these are signs that the Kingdom of God had truly begun and that they had begun in the person of Jesus.  Beyond this, those that followed Jesus experienced the healing that comes from the abounding love of his compassion, his forgiveness and his mercy.  He healed not just their bodies but their whole being and by so doing his healing reconciled their relationship with God. Through his life, death and Resurrection (the greatest miracle story of all the Gospels) we too have a path to reconciliation and healing.  Our baptism is our yes to his all-encompassing love and compassion.