Be Opened

Remember the story of Jesus preaching in the house, and four men, carrying a paralytic, approach, and finding no way to Jesus decide to open up the roof, and let the sick man down in font of the Lord.  That is really determination.  Today is more of the same.  The crowd brings to Jesus a man who is deaf, with a speech impediment.  Jesus takes him away by himself, touches his ears and tongue declaring, 'Ephphatha,' which heals the man of his afflictions.  "Jesus has done all things well."

The commonality of these stories though is their are friends, neighbors, or even a crowd, who direct Jesus to one who is sick or suffering.  That is sort of what w do at church every Sunday.  We pray for the Church, the world, those with special needs, the sick, and our deceased.  People mention to me all of the time that they have a need of a family member or friend that needs prayers.

From the early Christian community, bringing our needs and concerns before Jesus, and thus responding in faith, has been a  priority.  he early disciples healed, drove out demons, forgave sins, and preached good news.  The charisma of the early Church was the continuation of the ministry of the Christ by healing and caring for those in need.  Certainly today through the sacramental and pastoral ministries of the Church the Good News is preached to men and women.  Responding to the brokenness of those around us is the thing that we do.

More so as the Church continues to grow, and the needs and concerns of our world change too, we have to ask ourselves where the lame, blind, deaf, mute, leprous, and possessed are today.  As a community of faith it is so very important to bring attention to the sick and the hurting.  Decades ago our Church would not have had a ministry to the divorced, those with AIDS, or those with addictions.  In the introduction of the Sacrament of Anointing we read a portion from St. James letter, "Send for the priests of the Church."

In our struggle with sickness and brokenness, Sin and Evil, those who are lost or forgotten, we become most like Jesus Christ.  Jesus takes the sick man, from today's Gospel, off by himself, to be with him and to help him grow into a deeper relationship with the Divine Mystery.  Our pastoral care and concern unfolds the Kingdom of God.

Faithful communities bring the sick and hurting to Jesus.  We are attentive to the neediness of the world around us.  In doing so we remain engaged in the mission and ministry of Jesus.