< <  

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

  > >


Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
John 5:1-16

View Readings
Similar Reflections

healed for hell?

“Remember, now, you have been cured. Give up your sins so that something worse may not overtake you.” —John 5:14

Fr. Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, preached often on healing. One of his frequent exhortations during healing services was: “God heals you for service in His Kingdom. He didn’t heal you so you could be the healthiest person in hell!”

Father Al often referred to St. Peter’s mother-in-law as the model of one who received healing. She was suffering from a fever (Mk 1:30). Jesus healed her, and immediately she got up and began to wait on Jesus and the apostles (Mk 1:31). That’s the goal: to be healed from our physical and spiritual infirmities, and to be healed for service (Eph 2:10), evangelization (Rm 1:5), worship, and a life of holiness (Eph 1:4).

A man had been infirm for thirty-eight years. Jesus healed him and then exhorted him to give up his sins so that nothing “worse” would happen to him (Jn 5:14). There is something worse than thirty-eight years of being bedridden: a life of sin and an eternity in hell.

Jesus’ healing is both spiritual and physical. He doesn’t heal halfway. Therefore, “give up your sins” (Jn 5:14). Let Jesus touch you with His healing love for a life of service in His kingdom.

Prayer:  Jesus, use me to lead thousands of people to receive Your healing and to spend their lives in Your service.

Promise:  “God is our Refuge and our Strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore we fear not.” —Ps 46:2-3

Praise:  Because of her faith in the risen Jesus, Margaret was able to grow in holiness after the unexpected death of her husband.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 15, 2022"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.