by Deacon Mark Danis | October 25, 2021 12:05 am
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.” (Matthew 9:35)
I heard someone say recently that the number one thing Christ brought to us, aside from the gift of our eternal salvation, was the gift of healing. And I agree, Christ is the Great Physician, and He did come to bring healing, an eternal healing.
For many this idea may not bring much comfort. It is simply a fact that many have diligently prayed for healing, sometimes for themselves and often times for others, but the healing did not occur, or at least not in the way the person might have hoped and prayed for.
This can be challenging, since Christ did indeed provide healing to many people, and in ways that were externally obvious and whose effects could be seen. This was true when He healed a crippled limb and allowed someone to walk again, or when He returned sight to a blind person. But there is a much larger and eternal aspect to Christ’s healing power.
There is a fascinating story in the Old Testament, from the 2nd Book of Samuel, where King David (who of course prefigured Christ and was a model for Him) was planning to take the City of Jerusalem, which in this Biblical context stands for the Kingdom of the World and which at that time was held by a Jebusite King.
The Jebusite King sent word to David’s army that he need not attempt to take the City, as it was too well defended. Indeed, according to this King, even the blind and the lame of the City would be enough to keep David and his army from taking possession of it.
“The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, ‘You will not come in here, even the blind and the lame will turn you back’—thinking, ‘David cannot come in here.’” (2 Samuel 5:6)
The blindness and lameness mentioned in this scripture verse also refers, again in the Biblical context, to worldly man’s inability to see with the eyes of faith or to walk in the way of faith; it is nothing less than a lack of faith.
What is particularly interesting about the rest of this story is that David and his men do take the City, and they do so by entering through the water tunnels that run into the City, which is not something the Jebusites ever expected.
“David had said on that day, ‘Whoever would strike down the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, those whom David hates.’” (2 Samuel 5:8a)
Now David’s perspective on these blind and lame might sound harsh in this story from the Old Testament, but we must keep in mind that it was the blind and the lame who were portrayed as his enemy.
This of course is symbolic of Christ’s entry into our world and of His overcoming our blindness and lameness through the healing waters of baptism. In the same way, it is the blind and lame lack of faith that is established as the enemy of Christ. And more importantly, it is this same lack of faith in Christ that risks souls being kept out of the Heavenly Kingdom.
“Therefore it is said, ‘The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.’” (2 Samuel 5:8b)
Likewise, for each of us, it is only by the healing of our souls, by the purifying of our faith, that we will be granted entry into the Eternal Dwelling Places.
If we return to Christ’s triumphant entry into His public ministry, we will recall that it began by Christ being baptized by John the Baptist. This act of humility was a sign that Christ had triumphantly entered the Kingdom of the world, but not to conquer it by force. Instead, Christ entered the Kingdom of each and every individual heart by bringing about the healing of the greatest infirmity man suffered by man, a lack of faith. Yes, in some cases, Christ miraculously performed a physical healing, though not always. For His ultimate goal was and remains the eternal healing of the human soul.
For we know that even though the body may experience healing of a specific physical condition, it will, none the less, ultimately succumb to death. But the soul, which is where Christ does His best work as our Great Physician, is eternal, and the healing of our souls is what will lead to our eternal health and salvation.
When we think of healing then, in the context of Christ’s mission to redeem us, we must recognize that His ultimate objective is to capture and heal our individual, interior Kingdoms, to literally take the City of our souls. There Christ wants to Rule as Lord and King.
“David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward.” (2 Samuel 5:9)
Or put another way…
“I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.” (Ephesians 3:16-17)
Let us pray that we might draw down our defenses, which is nothing other than our own wounded hearts and souls and allow Christ to enter and perform the healing we so desire.
God Bless!
Copyright © Mark Danis
Image: via Shutterstock
Source URL: https://integratedcatholiclife.org/2021/10/danis-an-eternal-hope-for-healing/
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