Coffee With God

Reflection: Matthew 9:35–10:1,6-8

One thing about which we can be certain, and from which we might draw hope, is that God is a healer. “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” (Ps. 147:3) Jesus understands the pains of being wounded from his own experience of the woundedness he endured. Therefore, “Heal the sick” – is a mission mandate of Christ to his disciples. He sent out his apostles on a Mission: their first task was to preach – proclaim the message – that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Then, the Lord gives a list of tasks they must carryout: but all those tasks are all about healing – raising the dead; cleansing the lepers, drive out demons – all these assignments are about healing the sick. Jesus, moved with compassion for the suffering he witnessed, expanded the reach of his healing touch by commissioning his disciples with the mission of bringing people back to health. Thus, physical, emotional and spiritual health of our brothers and sisters is a responsibility of a disciple of Jesus. A disciple may have his own brokenness, but that does not and must not prevent him/her from carrying out the task of ‘healing the sick.’ Still have some excuses for not getting involved in the Mission of the Church, such as you are not good enough or not worthy enough? Ask the twelve apostles for their competency for taking up the task of preaching the Gospel! They got selected not because of their merits or proficiencies. Perhaps, the Lord chose them for their woundedness in order to heal the wounds of the world. That is why we call the Church a wounded healer. As we wait for the Lord this Advent season while also waiting for an end to this pandemic, may we all find comfort in the knowledge that Christ meets us in and through our woundedness.