Joining Jesus’ Healing Ministry
- davidwperk
- Jun 17, 2024
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, June 17, 2024
Proper 6, the week of the fourth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ 20He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Devotional Readings (BCP, 971)
AM Psalm 80; PM Psalm 77, [79]
Num. 9:15-23, 10:29-36; Rom. 1:1-15; Matt. 17:14-21
Today we celebrate the Feast of Marina the Monk. (See below.)
David's Reflections
My second-grade school teacher, Nina Small, lost her son by drowning. He had an epileptic seizure on the riverbank and fell into the Calcasieu River. I witnessed a seizure in the Philippine Islands at age 19 as a student summer missionary during an evangelistic service at a street-side open-air location. The scene was terrifying.
Mark and Luke also describe this healing. In Mark the father says the boy has a spirit of dumbness; in Luke the father describes his affliction as being seized by a spirit. Both Matthew and Luke shorten Mark's descriptive detail, but it appears obvious that the youth had epilepsy.
The translators of the New Revised Standard Version use that word here, but Matthew literally has the word "moonstruck" where we read the word "epileptic" in verse 15. Insanity was explained as the work of demons in Jesus' world. In Jewish thought the two most prevalent explanations of illness were the work of demons or judgment from God as a result of sin. In a prescientific world with limited knowledge of human physiology and pathogens, we can understand that restricted perspective.
We would modernize Jesus if we assumed he differed from his generation and had a modern understanding of epilepsy. The other extreme also would be a disservice to Scripture, namely to ignore the biblical witness to the reality of an unseen world of evil at war with God. We can understand that epilepsy is not a demonic issue while also taking the reality of evil seriously.
I am struck by Jesus' expectation that his ministry of healing would be shared by his followers. That healing could be salvation itself, with forgiveness and divine love doing their healing work. It could be physical healing, as in this case. It could be the healing of wounded memories, an inner emotional healing. It could be deliverance from evil or the healing of a place. It could be the healing of intergenerational wounds. Some have a unique spiritual gift for healing through prayer and touch (1 Cor. 12:9).
Jesus' response to his disciples' inability to pray for healing challenges us to stretch our vision of ministry. We are a "catholic and apostolic" church, according to the creed we recite each Sunday. To be apostolic involves carrying on the ministry of Jesus and the Apostles. How can our congregation take seriously Jesus' expectation that we join in his ministry of healing? Can we as individuals embrace God’s care for our wholeness and join in that ministry? Even if we do not have a gift for healing, we can pray for and attend those physically sick and wounded in spirit. We will be joining in Jesus’ ongoing ministry of healing.
Collect of the Day, Proper 6, the Week of the fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
. (BCP, 230)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Marina the Monk (died 5th Century)
Collect of the Feast of Marina
Give us grace, Lord God, to refrain from judgments about the sins of others; that, like your servant Marina the Monk, we may hold fast to the path of discipleship in the midst of unjust judgments; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
Prayer in a Time of War
O Almighty God, the Father of all humanity, turn, we pray, the hearts of all peoples and their rulers, that by the power of your Holy Spirit peace may be established among the nations on the foundation of justice, righteousness and truth; through him who was lifted up on the cross to draw all people to himself, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. William Temple (1881-1944), Archbishop of Canterbury
A Collect for the Presence of Christ
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 17:14-21
14 When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, 15and said, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.’ 17Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’ 18And Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. 19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ 20He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move (Other ancient authorities add verse 21, But this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting and nothing will be impossible for you.’)
Daily Offices in the Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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