Loving God, just as you spoke creation into being, so you speak words of healing and new life.  By the power of your Spirit, teach us to trust your Word and to look to you for healing, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

            There are many people these days who would love for Jesus to come and heal and give life.  Some are looking for healing from various forms of illness – either for themselves or for a loved one.  Others are dealing with grief, and have been unable to gather with others for comfort and support.  Some are living in isolation and are losing both their social skills and their ability to walk and get around.  Some are caring for those who are ill on a daily basis, and would love to witness healing rather than sickness and death.  Still others long for a caring community, but have none.

         This longing for healing and new life is no different from the people whom Jesus encountered in Galilee.  Last week we heard about the man with a withered hand whom Jesus healed in the synagogue.  This week we hear about a slave who is close to death and a widow who has just lost her only son.  In at least two of these cases, the need was not only for healing, but for a restoration into the community.

         It is quite likely that the man with the withered hand was forced to beg in order to make a living.  Luke makes a point of telling us that it was his right hand that was withered, and thus he would have been extremely limited in what he could do for a living.  The widow in today’s gospel also would have been forced to beg in order to survive, having lost both her husband and her son.  A childless widow had no place in the society of the time – something that Jesus recognizes when he meets the funeral procession.

         In each case in today’s gospel, we see the power of Jesus’ word.  The centurion who asked Jesus to heal his slave seems to know that Jesus doesn’t need to come in person.  “Only speak the word,” he says, “and let my servant be healed” (Lk. 7:7).  And Jesus is amazed at the faith of this Gentile!  The gospel doesn’t tell us what word or words Jesus actually spoke.  We are only told that by the time the elders returned to the house, the slave had already been healed.

         In the same way, Jesus’ word has both the power and the authority to raise the dead.  In this case, nobody has even asked for Jesus’ help, but his compassion leads him to act.  “Young man, I say to you, rise!” (Lk. 7:14).  That is all it takes to restore the young man to his mother, and thus to restore her place in the community.

         For us, too, the healing we seek is not only personal, but communal.  In the midst of this pandemic many have said that nobody is safe until all are safe.  As long as there are countries without access to vaccines, the virus will continue to multiply and to spread.  The welfare of individuals and the welfare of communities are inextricably linked – and Jesus has the power to heal both.

         It is not always easy for us to imagine how the power of Jesus to heal and to give life is made manifest today.  There are those cases where prayer and the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus leads to immediate and miraculous healing.  I have no doubt that this happens, but it does not happen to everybody.  Sometimes healing takes a long time – even with many prayers for that individual.  Sometimes healing doesn’t seem to happen at all - in spite of our prayers.  And sometimes, rather than providing a miracle, God works through conventional means like doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals.

         At the same time, there are many different forms of healing.  We might ask for physical healing when what we really need is emotional and spiritual healing.  We might ask for healing while at the same time we are unwilling to make the changes that might bring that healing about.  We might seek healing for somebody who is dying when God’s plans for healing involve releasing that person into the life to come.  We might seek individual healing when what is really needed is the healing of the community.

         There continues to be an element of mystery in God’s response to our prayers for healing in the name of Jesus.  However, does it help when at the core of our being we know that God loves us, forgives us, and sets us free?  Does it help when we believe in both the power and the authority of the word of Jesus – especially when he says things like, “remember, I am with you always” (Mt. 28:20) or “I came that [you] may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn. 10:10)?

         We may not have the same faith as the Roman centurion – a faith that amazed even Jesus.  Yet, may the Holy Spirit give us the faith to pray, Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.  Amen.  May it be so.  Amen.

Epiphany 5 (NL 3)                            Luke 7:1-17

February 7, 2021

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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