FORTY DAYS WITH JESUS (A daily Lenten Reflection). DAY 4: NO ONE IS HEALTHY

Health is one of the cherished treasures on earth. We hear people say “health is wealth”. People do can anything to stay healthy. Science has really advanced in recent times in the discovery of drugs and vaccines to combat sickness. However, in spite of all scientific advancements in combating diseases, man still fall short of complete health of mind and body. In the gospel reading of today, Jesus says that He came for the sick and not the healthy.

Unfortunately none of us is healthy: physically, psychologically and spiritually. Jesus came for all of us. Christ is an integral healer: He heals physically, psychologically and spiritually. In this period of Lent, let us give ourselves to Christ through mercy, compassion, forgiveness and love that He may heal us. We need all round healing especially spiritual healing through forgiveness of our sins because sin is at the base of human sickness.

Sin causes several wounds in us. It wounds the self image—the ability to forget the past and accept that we are worthwhile and lovable before God and our neighbours. It wounds relationships—the ability to love and forgive others. For this multiple wounds of sin, Christ provides healing at the confessional through the sacrament of reconciliation. It is the clinic of the great heart surgeon—Jesus. There he fulfills the promise of heart transplant, “I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart. I will put my spirit in you” (Ez. 36:26-27). As we journey through this Lenten season, let us present ourselves before him to be healed of our arrogance and selfishness, pride and prejudice, lust and debauchery, name them. He came for the sick and not for the healthy.