Day 6: Our God Heals
Homily
Fr. Michael Teng of the OFM said that Jesus must be the centre of our lives. Explaining the 1st reading, 1 Cor 3: 1-9, he said St. Paul addressed the newly baptised Christians telling them that “neither the planter nor the waterer matters: only God made things grow.” Therefore he told the congregation not to focus on the priest because they are just instruments of God to bring healing. We are all God’s temple and God heals everything and reconciles with the broken people.
He explains that in Psalm 32: 12-15, 20-21, “Happy the people God has chosen”, shows God wants to reconcile with the people of Israel even though they betrayed him. God rescued them from slavery but their hearts turned to idols. God wants to reconcile with them so that the others may see that He is a merciful God and abundant in love and so others too will worship him. It is the weak ones that always break the rule and therefore need to reconcile with God. When we are at peace with God, we are at peace with everyone around us. By the virtue of Baptism, we are one with God.
In the Gospel of Luke 4: 38-44, he explains that Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law and immediately she begins to serve them. God heals us so that we too may serve in his vineyard. Jesus first brings physical healing and then heals them spiritually. The word of God brings spiritual healing. Man has no power to heal, only God can do that. If our words can heal others then God is using us as instruments of healing. When we are healed we should tell others. Healing is initiated by God and accepted by us. Spiritual healing takes place when we receive the communion. “Mary was chosen for the salvation of the world” said Fr. Michael, and added that she heals people of their infirmities and sickness and brings them out of their suffering.
Blessing of the sick and laying of hands.
Fr. Michael, Fr. Dom and Fr. Louis sprinkled holy water and laid hands on them.