We are created in God’s image.  We are spirit enfleshed, as Jesus was.  This is an inescapable and sacred part of our being on this earth.  Our spirit-infused bodies—or perhaps I should say our bodily-infused spirits—bring us great joy and also great challenges.

Jesus’ life is a testimony to this—right down to his horrific and physically agonizing death.  He knew what it was to live in-carnate; in-the-flesh.  Wherever he went, he healed, through touch, forgiveness, by simply looking at someone—i.e., through the power of the Holy Spirit.  I love to remember that the same Greek word that means “to heal” also means “to save.”  Jesus came to save us, and Jesus came to heal us.  Jesus is our savior; we can also, truly, call him our healer.

We, too, bear our part in this ministry.  Like Jesus, we are children of God; Jesus is our brother in Spirit—literally.  God’s kingdom—meaning the presence of God or God’s Holy Spirit—is within us.  Mystically.  And, again, literally.  We are well-connected.  So it is no surprise that healing miracles can and do happen on a regular basis.  We can expect a miracle.

A few points about healing.

First, although people are not always cured of an illness, healing always happens when we ask for it.   Always.

Second, it is possible that, in hindsight, we may feel thankful for some physical dis-ease which seemed awful at the time.  I can state unequivocally that had I not had cancer, I would not be speaking to you about healing.

Sooner or later we all grapple with the question, “Why do good people, with wonderful positive attitudes and loads of prayer support, get sick or even die?”  We simply do not always know.  Accepting this is an important part of our journey; learning to trust that God is Goodness, and that God does NOT inflict pain, but can use the inevitable pain we will experience in this life, to move us into another, deeper way of being.  Think crucifixion and resurrection.

Jesus taught—over and over—that we should ask for what we need—over and over!  He encourages us to seek, and to trust that we will find.  Our prayers are always heard and answered, even when it seems to take forever—because some things have to happen before other things can happen–or when the answer is not what we expected—or wanted.

The early church carried on the healing ministry Jesus had modeled for them.  We see that in the pastoral letter of James.  The laying on of hands, anointing, prayer—all of these continue in the church, 2000 years later.

And equally important to remember:  Jesus never turned anyone away when they came seeking healing.  Never.

So whoever we are, and wherever we may be on our spiritual journies and in our need for healing, we are all invited to approach our God, and to place our trust in the healing grace and power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.