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Gospel Reading for February 5, 2024 – Mark 6: 53-56
HOSPITAL
After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.
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Were there no hospitals during Jesus’ time? Why were there so many sick people everywhere, that even marketplaces became makeshift hospitals?
It is said that there were very few hospitals such that health care was dependent on the family of the sick person. It is also said that the very few hospitals could be accessed only by the rich. So, if one is poor, chances of being healed is nil. No wonder, when they heard about Jesus’ healing powers, they had to go to him because Jesus was their only chance.
Physical illnesses however, will always be part of our lives. Even animals, plants, trees and bodies of water suffer a sort of “illness.” We even know of people who lived “clean” or “healthy” but suddenly dropped dead of an illness they were not aware of. Let us accept the reality that it is difficult not to get sick, given the pollution, the food we eat, the stress and pressure of work, the problems and hurdles we have to go through, and so many others. But, the illness that we can have control over, is SPIRITUAL ILLNESS, and it is the illness that is so important to heal, otherwise, we cannot enter eternal life.
Jesus was so thoughtful to give Peter the authority to build the Church – the HOSPITAL FOR SPIRITUAL ILLNESS. We have the Holy Spirit in our midst and the Bible which contains the teachings of Christ. We have the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation through Confession, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony and Holy Orders, which gives us the opportunity to be integrated in the Church Community where we can always deepen our relationship with God, receive counsel from our clergy, as well as the support of other members of the community. At the end of our lives, we will be asked to account for ourselves. We cannot put the blame on others because we are the ones who make our lives.
Heal us Lord of our sins and never let us be separated from you!
