No doubt you will quote me the saying, “Physician, heal yourself.”

In this gospel from Luke, a physician by occupation, Jesus is misperceived by his people even after they marvel at his speaking. To them, he is merely Joseph’s son.

Jesus came to the world to cure the sick and poor in spirit, heal souls, and restore our relationship with God. Jesus, the “Great Physician,” immediately grasps the condition of the whole person- whether physical, emotional, or spiritual- no second opinion is needed.

As Catholics having the privilege to receive Jesus through many sacraments in our lifetimes, we know how Jesus’s presence can affect our spirit, stirring multitudes of conflicting emotions – wonder, fear, peace, pain, confusion, ecstasy- to name a few. To accept healing from Jesus, we must first acknowledge our sinfulness and weakness – that is, the beauty and the power of his majesty.

Instead of finding comfort in the familiarity of knowing Jesus since he was a child, the Nazarenes are so dis-eased within themselves that they reject their diagnosis and chance at being healed. Today’s gospel reminds us to humbly and continually ask ourselves where and with whom God is at work.

Today, our job is to live in the light of Christ so that our identity as God’s children is recognizable and his kingship undeniable. Jesus, son of the one, true God, is the Greatest Physician of all time whose transformative power is available to all who see, hear, and believe. Made in his image, we are walking hosts of God’s love.

How are you preparing your heart and allowing the Physician to work within you? In what areas can we aid God’s healing work?

Let Us Pray:

Lord, send down your spirit and renew the face of the Earth. Give us the courage to confront our sins humbly. Strengthen us through our weakness and heal us in our suffering. Renew our identity in you, and grant us wisdom, peace, and unity in this world and beyond. In your most holy and beloved name, we pray. Amen.