Old Testament priests officially “declared” a person pure or impure, for example, lepers were declared impure. Priests would banish impure persons like lepers, establishing borders to keep them out, “He shall dwell apart.” Integrated relationships were destroyed. The Gospel’s Jesus of Nazareth gathers together people who are declared impure. More so, he specifically heals those … Continue reading “Critics Do Not Heal”
Tag: healing
Circumstantial or Systemic?
Job in the Old Testament is a good man, evidenced by Job being a rich man, blessed by God, “Job owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen,” “and a very large number of slaves.” Job’s circumstances change though, because “the Lord” says to “satan,” “All that Job has is in your control satan.” … Continue reading “Circumstantial or Systemic?”
Consistent Ethic of Life: Healing
“As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned.” Jesus then “spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and … Continue reading “Consistent Ethic of Life: Healing”
Walking Away From the Call to War
In today’s Old Testament reading the Warlord Yahweh calls the Warlord Jacob to, “Exult at the head of the nations.” The New Testament reading says “every high priest” is “called by God” to offer blood “sacrifices for sins.” In the Gospel, a blind man, Bartimaeus, calls Jesus to heal him. “Many rebuked him, telling him … Continue reading “Walking Away From the Call to War”
What Do We Will?
The Old Testament reading concerns the will of the priestly class to judge a man a sinner. He is a leper. The judgment dehumanizes the man. No longer is he a human being with a disease but instead, he is the disease. He is the sin; “the priest shall declare him unclean… (he) shall keep … Continue reading “What Do We Will?”
Healed of the Herd
Late into the night disciples are in a boat “being tossed about by the waves.” They see Jesus coming “toward them walking on the sea.” “They were terrified” “and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’” Peter alone asserts he is not … Continue reading “Healed of the Herd”
Blind Spots
“As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth,” who was thus judged a sinner. Disciples, influenced by their culture’s values, ask if his blindness is the sin of “this man or his parents.” Jesus replied, “Neither,” “it is so the works of God might be made visible through him.” Jesus then healed … Continue reading “Blind Spots”
Faith or Fear
Jesus encounters fear in two persons he meets along his journey. One is a woman who fears being detected in public. She is stricken with a persistent flow of blood and to be in public is to be threatened with harm. The woman faces her fear. She risks a dangerous move. She reaches out to … Continue reading “Faith or Fear”
There Is No Salvation
Peter has performed “a good deed done to a cripple.” He has healed him. Peter does not take credit for doing so. He says the man has been healed “in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean.” Peter then makes a statement that has unfortunately been twisted in its meaning. He says, “There is no … Continue reading “There Is No Salvation”
Healing Touch
In this Sunday’s Gospel we meet ten human beings who have no place in the family of life; they are out of touch, physically. They are kept separate from their human family; isolated, lonely. They bear a skin disease and are judged sinners. Their bodies bear marks that have them in despair over ever being … Continue reading “Healing Touch”