When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.”
When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour.
When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:1-17
When I was a child I had a huge operation and a long hospital stay. As a young mother I had another extensive surgery that resulted in an extracted hospital stays. Both times I recall talking to God from a place of fear and brokenness. I asked if God would heal me, I would serve my Creator. I really didn't know what that meant at the time. I was afraid and trapped. And it is truly my blessing that God saw fit to not only heal me but use me. The joy of healing comes in service to others. Those of us who have been broken and defeated know what it is and have compassion for those around us.
Jesus is on the move after coming down from the mountain top. He is energized and the people around him see that. They all have needs, many were very sick and hurting. He responded to each and marveled at those who acted on the healing, getting up and serving as Peter's mother-in-law did, or trusting completely and getting on with our work, as the centurion did. We are invited by God to seek healing, and as we receive it, get up and serve those around us. It is our true joy to serve!
Today, as Diocesan Convention begins here in Montana, I ask simply to serve the people who come this day. May we all be strong, so others might live and embrace our healing so that we might know the joy of service.
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