The Power of Healing is found within ourselves.

The Power of Healing can be found within ourselves.

When Jesus encountered the man who had been at the pool called Bethesda, waiting for someone to put him into the water once it was stirred up, for healing, he said, “when I am on my way to the water someone gets there ahead of me.”  For 38 years this same occurrence happened and he could not get a healing.  Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat and walk.”   Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.  (Jn. 5: 2 - 9).

“A woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years, who had spent her whole livelihood on doctors and was unable to be cured by anyone, came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak.  Immediately her bleeding stopped.  Jesus then asked, “Who touched me?”  Peter said, “Master, the crowds are pushing and pressing in upon you.”  “But, Jesus said, “Someone has touched me:  for I know that power has gone out from me.”  When the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came forward trembling.  Falling down before him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched him and how she had been healed immediately.  He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”  (Lk 8: 43 - 48).

Both of these incidents involve more than Jesus healing through his very presence.  When the man at Bethesda heard the words of Jesus something deep within himself suddenly arose.   He heard the words of hope and his faith was resurrected within himself.  What he heard was more than grace, it was what we all have within the very essence of our human spirit that just waits for the Spirit within to make the move.  We all have that, but need someone to tell us it is there.

The woman with a hemorrhage knew deep inside that Jesus would heal her since what she had heard about him stirred up within her own spirit that belief in God was the only way to get rid of her dilemma.  After her confession to Jesus that faith she always had but not sure how to tap into it became a reality that surely would remain with her

The two healings show us that there is no healing without God’s intervention.  And they will also awaken within us the Spirit that is waiting for our faith to look into the power of God’s Holy Spirit who never leaves us, and waits for us to use that virtue of belief and activate the graces of God to find that healing.

When ministering with a priest at a healing service, I personally saw people coming to the  laying on of hands and they collapsed.  It is not uncommon since the participants are ready to receive a blessing.  Once at a charismatic retreat at Steubenville for priests and deacons, we were standing and talking about the healings.  I mentioned never falling when being touched at the service.  One priest said really, as he laid his hands on me and my legs buckled like rubber collapsing.   I became a believer immediately.

Christ will use us to extend his grace of healing to others and even though there may be some who discount this ministry, it like all the other charisms exist as long as we know only Christ can heal.  

 Ralph B. Hathaway