Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Title

The Hands of a Healer

Outline

In The Lord of the Rings the hands of the king are the hands of a healer

This is what was prophesied

This is what we see in Jesus - especially towards those outside the group of disciples.

Likewise we see it in the apostles, again especially with respect to non-Christians

This is what we see in our readings

Jesus, in our reading, does social healing

Children had no honor status; they could be bought and sold, if the family was in need; they were to be neither heard or seen, spending their time in the women’s quarters

Jesus takes the children whom others had brought to him (against his disciples’ will) and blesses them

And he says, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”

Small children believe easily; they are used to not understanding but accepting

Jesus does not only given the children attention, but gives them an honored status - they are the examples for the adults

James talks about physical healing and more

Call the presbyters, those who know Jesus best and are empowered to speak in his name

They do two things: Pray and anoint with oil - they do what the apostles did in Mark 6.

That type of verbal and sacramental prayer, done out of trust in and obedience to Jesus will “heal” or “save” the sick. It is not because it is a magic formula, but because “the Lord will raise them up.” God responds to those obedient to his directions.

But what is this about “if . . . their sins will be forgiven”? The cause of sickness can be physical, spiritual, and emotional. God will lead the presbyters to the various levels in his order and his way - he will heal from the roots, not just heal the surface.

Prayer is indeed powerful if it is done at the direction of God, if it is for his will - thus the example of Elijah from Jewish tradition

James leaves the most significant healing to last

Someone has strayed from the way of Jesus - we have many such folk today, some who have turned their back knowingly and some who have drifted into error.

If someone brings the sinner to repentance, he saves or heals that one’s soul. He is the good shepherd who has gone after a straying sheep. He saves the person from spiritual death and covers (or makes atonement for) a multitude of sins. Only Jesus can do that, but he desires to do that in us. Only very rarely does he appear.

Prayers at death are included here, the most sacred of prayers (cf. A Time to Die)

So there we have a scary job description - we are to be healers, revealing the presence of Jesus in us

All are called to this, some to one type of healing and some to others, some at one level and some at others - but listen to Jesus and follow his guidance so that it is his will not our will that is being done

Presbyters are called particularly to the seriously ill - they go to the person, not the person to them. It is scary, but the directions are clear. We are just speaking the words of Jesus in forgiveness or in healing - he does the healing.

Most important is turning folk from the error of their way - not judging them, but turning them, quite a different skill set.

As we do this in practice people will see that the hands of the King are indeed the hands of a healer, for they will see the king at work in us.

Reading

Catholic Daily Readings 2-26-2022: Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

James 5:13–20

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. 17 Elijah was a human being like us; yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.

19 My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, 20 he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Catholic Daily Readings 2-26-2022: Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 141:2a

2 Let my prayer be incense before you;

my uplifted hands an evening offering.

PSALM

Psalm 141:1–3, 8

1 A psalm of David.

LORD, I call to you; hasten to me;

listen to my plea when I call.

2 Let my prayer be incense before you;

my uplifted hands an evening offering.

3 Set a guard, LORD, before my mouth,

keep watch over the door of my lips.

8 For my eyes are upon you, O LORD, my Lord;

in you I take refuge; do not take away my soul.

Catholic Daily Readings 2-26-2022: Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 11:25

25 At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.

GOSPEL

Mark 10:13–16

13 And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” 16 Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 2-26-2022: Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading James 5:13–20

Response Psalm 141:2a

Psalm Psalm 141:1–3, 8

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 11:25

Gospel Mark 10:13–16

GREEN