The Gift of Health

Sacred Gifts and Holy Gatherings
Four Weddings and a Funeral
A Wedding in Cana

Matthew 15:29-39  The Message

^29-31 After Jesus returned, he walked along Lake Galilee and then climbed a mountain and took his place, ready to receive visitors. They came, tons of them, bringing along the paraplegic, the blind, the maimed, the mute—all sorts of people in need—and more or less threw them down at Jesus’ feet to see what he would do with them. He healed them. When the people saw the mutes speaking, the maimed healthy, the paraplegics walking around, the blind looking around, they were astonished and let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them.

³² But Jesus wasn’t finished with them. He called his disciples and said, “I hurt for these people. For three days now they’ve been with me, and now they have nothing to eat. I can’t send them away without a meal—they’d probably collapse on the road.”

³³ His disciples said, “But where in this deserted place are you going to dig up enough food for a meal?”
^34-39 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”
“Seven loaves,” they said, “plus a few fish.” At that, Jesus directed the people to sit down. He took the seven loaves and the fish. After giving thanks, he divided it up and gave it to the people. Everyone ate. They had all they wanted. It took seven large baskets to collect the leftovers. Over four thousand people ate their fill at that meal. After Jesus sent them away, he climbed in the boat and crossed over to the Magadan hills.

For Reflection 

This is such a well known story.  Compassion and justice are its themes.  Unhealthy people were treated unjustly and Christ healed them.  With compassion Jesus fed them.  Salvation is not just about spiritual healing.  It is also physical healing.

Perhaps you cannot turn water into wine, or heal the sick with a touch of your hand, but, you can engage in compassion acts of justice and healing.  Then, through you too, others will see your sign that God is blazingly alive!

Pray

that you will take advantage of the opportunities for service which are placed squarely in you path by the blazingly alive God.