Healing and Wholeness

We live in an era in which it is common to dissect our lives into different segments.  It comes with the age of specialization.  For example, we tend to distinguish between spiritual and physical aspects of our lives.  But the biblical view of a person was much more holistic.  The spiritual and the physical belong together.  We see it clearly in how Jesus was always interested in bringing wholeness to people’s lives.  That wholeness integrates the spiritual and physical.  Today’s reading from Matthew 8:14-17, 28-34 illustrate that well.  Not only did Jesus heal the sick (such as Peter’s mother-in-law who had fever), but he also drove out the spirits from the demon-possessed.  And Jesus’ methods of bringing wholeness through healing were both touching and speaking.  That is how he fulfilled Isaiah’s prophesy that He would come to take up our infirmities and carry our diseases (8:17).  You and I can also help carrying the burdens of others today with a little touch of support or a quiet word of encouragement.