“Healing”

As I write this, there are growing concerns about the coronavirus. While we monitor this and seek updates from public health officials and elected leaders, we are all encouraged to take the same basic precautions that we would during flu season: wash your hands regularly, cough or sneeze into your elbow, avoid touching your face, and if you are sick please stay home. These are common sense steps that need to be followed, especially now. Of course, for others additional precautions may be needed, especially for those in high-risk categories such as the elderly or those with a compromised immune system. We are also encouraged to make plans in the event that we have to be at home for an extended period. Below are links to information that is current at the time of this writing:

Fairfax County Health Department

VDH - Fact Sheet for Coronaviruses

CDC - 2019 Novel Coronavirus FAQ

CDS - 2019 Novel Coronavirus

World Health Organization - Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

People at Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations

We pray for healing for all those affected by the coronavirus, as well as health care workers, cleaning crews, and others who must deal first-hand with this virus. Healing is a powerful word. The word for “healing” in the original language of the New Testament (Greek) is θεραπεύω (therapeuo), the origin of  our word “therapy.” When we are ill, coronavirus or otherwise, we long for healing; the restoration of life and health.

In his earthly life and ministry, Jesus brought healing and restoration to many who were sick and diseased. The Gospels are filled with accounts of this. One account in particular is found in all three synoptic Gospels: the account of Jesus’ healing a woman with a discharge of blood (Matthew 9:20-22 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9%3A20-22&version=ESV; Mark 5:24-34; https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+5%3A24-34&version=ESV; and Luke 8:42-48 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8%3A42b-48+&version=ESV). This is actually a story within a story. Jesus was on his way to bring healing to Jairus’ daughter, who was critically ill. While on the way, a woman in the crowd also sought healing from Jesus, but secretly. The woman’s condition (discharge of blood) rendered her ritually unclean according to Mosaic Law (see Leviticus 15:25-30, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus+15%3A25-30&version=ESV), and because of this she was a virtual outcast from her own community. We read about her that she “had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse” (Mark 5:26). And that’s how it can be for us today, even with all of the modern medical technology available to us. There are many who consult with lots of physicians, spend a lot of money, and yet do not get better. It can be a very frustrating experience to walk this journey.

Yet the woman trusted that Jesus could help her when no one and nothing else could. We are told that she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well” (Mark 5:28). That is faith. The truth is that the gift of healing for this woman was temporary. Jesus did heal her, but she did not live forever because of  this. Eventually, she died, as we all will. The healing that we seek for our own lives today will at best be temporary. We are grateful when we receive this, but it will not last forever. Like that woman, we also will die one day. The healing that makes an eternal difference is the healing that Jesus accomplished for us through his life, death, and resurrection. This blood-bought healing brings about forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. In Jesus, even when we die, yet shall we live (John 11:25). That is the ultimate healing which only Jesus can give.

While we walk through this time of the coronavirus, we keep our eyes on our Great Physician, Jesus, who loves us and laid down his life for us.

This closing prayer comes from a Lutheran prayer book dated 1935, and seems especially appropriate for this particular time:

Lord,  Thou knowest the deep places through which our lives must go: Help us, when we enter them, to lift our hearts to Thee; help us to be patient when we are afflicted, to be humble when we are in distress; and grant that the hope of Thy mercy may never fail us and the consciousness of Thy loving kindness may never be clouded or hidden from our eyes; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.