Healing.

The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. – Psalm 147.3

At the beginning of each bible study, I ask, “For what shall we pray for today?” We have a regular member of the group who without fail will say, “healing.” There are no specifics given, just healing. This request has been made so often, that even when that person is absent from the gathering, someone else will offer the request in absentia. It is an important reminder that we ought to always pray for healing. It also makes that person present with us, even though absent physically. 

Human beings suffer. Hearts are broken every day. New wounds are opened. Disappointment abounds. Unfulfilled dreams are mourned. Creation longs for its redemption and cries out for the fulfillment of Christ’s promise. The world needs healing.

Try as we might, all the skills and science, the full use of God’s gift of mind, body, and spirit, cannot heal our innate brokenness. The advancements of medicine cannot heal the sin-sick soul. Pandemic and political divisiveness has left in its wake damaged, if not shattered, relationships among families, congregations, and friends. Communities were worn already by differences in opinion and the need to physically, mentally, and spiritually distance from each other. Sadly, there is no vaccine that will prevent the further spread of our most grievous faults that are ingrained in our DNA. People will harm us. We will continue to fail one another. We need healing. 

Martin Luther writes in the Large Catechism, “Suppose there was a physician who had so much skill that people would not die, or even if they died, would afterword live eternally. Just think how the world would snow and rain money upon such a person! Because of the throng of rich people crowding around, no one else would be able to get near. Now, here in Baptism, there is brought free of charge, to every person’s door such a treasure and medicine that swallows up death and keeps all people alive.”

The source of our healing comes from the very promise of Christ given to us in baptism. This baptism has joined us to Christ’s own self, his suffering body. We are joined to his death and therefore rise with him to new life. We do not face our broken-heartedness and woundedness alone, Christ suffers with us and for us. 

Psalm 147 begins with “Praise the Lord!” This psalm was written by those who have returned from their version of distancing, an exile that forced them from the familiar and returned them to the uncertainty of the future. They offered their praise to God for God’s graciousness towards them. They proclaim that the Lord heals the brokenhearted.  The Lord gathers the outcast. The Lord lifts up the downtrodden. They had been witnesses to God’s restorative power in their lives and they gave praise.            

Healing is not easy. It requires time, patience, and much prayer. God’s word has been sent out to us. As God has done before, God will do again. Cling to the promise of the good news, the only treasure and medicine that can heal us is Christ crucified for you. The Lord is with you. Healing will happen. Praise the Lord.