Hair of the Dog

An ancient Roman belief was that "like cures like." Thus, as a remedy for a dog-bite the victim would attach to his skin a patch of hair fro the dog that bit him. From this evolved the modern version of "hair of the dog" - "curing" a morning-after hangover from a drinking binge by taking a stiff drink.

Without the superstitious implications, it can be said that divine providence has chosen to follow a kind of "like cures like' pattern in remedying mankind's hangover from the original sin - the sin-binge of our proto-parents in the Garden of Eden. that disastrous human failure called for a "human remedy - a human person who could represent fallen humanity before God, but one who would also be divine, in order to atone adequately to that diving majesty that was offended. Both requirements were fulfilled in our God-man Redeemer, as the second chapter of Hebrews explains.

Because his incarnation was completed through his suffering (see Hebrews 2:10), the "like cures like" principle is not limited to his redeeming us, but is extended even to our physical healing; even our suffering can be "cured" by his. Peter (see 1 Peter 2:24) reasserts this by quoting Isaiah: "By his wounds we are healed" (Is 53:5).

Admittedly, this approach to healing - "dumping" on the Lord our sufferings, knowing that he has already borne them for us - requires a consummate and rare form of faith. Let us ask for it.

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net