What Kind of Healing?
Psalm 26, 28 • Psalm 36, 39
1 Sam. 19:1-18 • Acts 12:1-17 • Mark 2:1-12
I’ve been involved with healing prayer and healing practices for years—first through the Tuesday evening Healing Service, which went away quietly several years ago, and then with my continuing work in the Healing Touch Ministry. Now, while I’m re-reading the story of Jesus healing the paralytic, I’m in a situation where I need (or at least want) healing for a physical illness.
The paralytic’s friends bring him to Jesus, and Jesus says, “Son your sins are forgiven.” It seems that Jesus was proving a point to the Jewish authorities with that statement—that he has the authority to forgive sins. Projecting my feelings on to the paralytic and his friends, they might have been disappointed. Being forgiven doesn’t help the man function in society, or reduce the burden of those who care for him. Maybe it means he can be at peace until he dies. A little later Jesus says to the man, “stand up, take your mat, and go to your home.” The man does, and God is glorified by this healing. As I read this, I say to myself, now that’s a healing!!
I’ve never pondered this story until I was facing my own illness, and it changes my perspective. (My situation, by the way, is a very treatable breast cancer that, of course, carries some long-term risk.) There’s a side of me, focused on physical survival and my body, that wants a “stand up, take your mat, and go” kickass kind of healing, rather than a quieter “your sins are forgiven” kind of healing. In other words, I want the cancer gone, period! And another side of me, recognizes the healing of my spirit that is happening as I try to accept and feel worthy of the love and prayers and support that come my way as I deal with cancer. This is more of a “your sins are forgiven” kind of healing—because no one cares about my so-called sins. They, and God, are loving me without considering my sins, faults, and foibles. And it’s very humbling and healing. Perhaps the paralytic, if he had needed to stay on the mat, with his sins forgiven, would have found that to be sufficient for a wonderful, loving, and spirit-filled life.
Written by Cathy Campbell
Cathy is a semi-retired professional counselor and Healing Touch Practitioner. She makes a joyful sound in the choir and helps lead the Healing Touch Ministry. She advocates for marginalized groups, especially LGBTQ people.