In our reading from the Hebrew Bible [Psalm 147] the author invites the reader to look up at the stars. This is a meaningful admonition because Jews at this time are still monolatrous but not yet monotheistic. In other words, they taught that YHVH, the God of the Covenant, was greatest of all deities but had not yet discerned that they were speaking of the only God. The stars were believed to be supernatural beings, The writers says the God of Israel is superior to them and orders them. If God governs the stars of heaven, certainly he can stengthen, heal, and reconcile his people "as on eagle's wings."
We see God in that mission through Jesus' healing ministry. In first century Palestine sick people really had few options. They could seek folk remedies, though the effect of most were nugatory, if not dangerous. Or they could seek out a physician but only the wealthy could afford one; and the physicians of that time, under the sway of Hippocrates' humourism, believed that health was to be maintained by keeping four fluids in balance and, hence, bled people or drained bodily fluids, making their condition worse. A third possibility was to pay for religious healing, which availed little. That recourse was common because all disease and disorders were believed to be caused by demons and, if you were manifestly ill, that meant you had done something wrong and God has withdrawn his protection from you and allowed the demons to work their evil. (Such healing practices were more widespread than just in Judaism. Jesus' principle competitor, the philosopher Appolonius, was well known for a story in which diagnosed a troubled youth as demon-possessed, goaded the demons to anger and grief, and ordered them out. With their explusion, the youth was fine and became a disciple of Appolonius).
In today's Gospel [Mark 1: 29-39], Jesus first heals Peter's mother-in-law who had a fever, back then believing to be an illness, not as symptoms. Jesus bypassed the usual incantations and instead touched the woman, laid hands on her, and raised her up. We see Jesus' presence and touch in a number of texts, bringing physcial, mental, spiritual, and emotional healing. The Great Physician! Then Jesus attends to many sick people. Remember that to be sick was to be in a sub-class of folks who were required to stay away from others; lepers even had to wear bells to warn of their location.
In our world, we are now the hands of Jesus, our touch is his touch. We are commanded to be healers, bringing reconciliation and health wherever we can -- in ourselves, in our families, our nieghbourhoods, communities, and beyond. We are reminded of that fact in the motto of our diocese which states that our mission is to reconcile others to one another and to God, in Christ. What God wants of us is tikkun olam, nothing less than the healing of the world!
Please note, at the end of our reading, Jesus takes a break to rest and restore himself for that mission. We do well to do the same, Lent is coming -- the perfect time.
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