Jesus, Is Our Divine Physician

By Fr. Thomas J. Reilly

The healing ministry goes back to the early Church. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see Saints Peter and Paul raising persons from the dead and performing other physical cures (Acts 3:1-13).

Jesus gave His 12 apostles authority to expel unclean spirits and to cure sickness and disease of every kind (Mt 10:1).

Jesus performed great physical healings in order to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies (Is 35:4-6; 61:1-2) and to get people's attention. His great cures pointed to a far more important reality - living the Gospel life. Jesus desires to bring us into personal relationship with the Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He desires for us to experience and live more deeply in the love and mercy of God. Our Lord is concerned with the whole person - body, soul, and spirit.

Jesus, our Divine Physician, came to free us from sin and death. He gave us His Church and its seven Sacraments to accomplish that. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, for example, He brings a soul from sickness to health. God is the Source of all peace, joy, and freedom. Jesus said at the Last Supper: "Peace is My farewell to you, My peace is My gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace. Do not be distressed or fearful" (Jn 14:27).

I preside over the monthly healing services at St. Theresa's Parish, in North Reading, Mass. These begin with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, and an opportunity for confession. Mass is celebrated, followed by the laying on of hands.

God desires that His wonders be made known (Ps 105:2). Therefore, I want to share with you that the Lord has used me as an instrument for the miraculous healing of dozens of people with life threatening cancer, heart problems, and other serious medical issues. Doctors have verified these healings. Many people have been healed of various aches and pains. I give thanks to the Lord for His gifts.

The following two examples illustrate the magnitude of these healings.

Example 1: Fr. Paul asked me to pray with Patricia. Patricia was told by doctors that she had stage IV cancer. It had spread throughout her entire body. It was even in her liver and bones. The doctors stopped all treatment because they believed her situation was nearly hopeless. After Mass, Fr. Paul and I prayed over Patricia and administered the Anointing of the Sick. Father Paul was shedding many tears as we prayed. The following week Patricia's blood tests came back normal. There was no cancer!

Father Paul said to me at that time that the reason he was shedding so many tears is that he knew God would use me to heal her. He had received a "word of knowledge" from God (1 Cor 12:8). The doctor was befuddled and ordered another blood test. He also ordered a PET-Scan for her in order to get a clearer look at her tissue and organ functioning. The second blood test showed no cancer. The PET-Scan also showed no cancer! Praise God! Patricia told the doctor that her healing came through the power of prayer! It needs to be mentioned that three months after her healing, Patricia came down with a small amount of lymph node cancer. This has been taken care of. Patricia is back at work and enjoying life.

Example 2: Another miraculous healing occurred when Pat (another Pat) asked me to pray with her. She had a serious medical issue. She received the Anointing of the Sick. Her husband, Alan, was praying with us. Not only did she receive a healing, but Alan did too. The eye doctors were amazed when his macular degeneration (of four years) and his macular hole (which causes blindness) were healed!

A macular hole can only be healed miraculously by Jesus or through surgery. When the doctors asked Alan how this incredible healing occurred, he said it was through the power of prayer. Alan also received "20/10" vision in both eyes. He no longer needed glasses to read! Praise God!

Father Thomas J. Reilly is parochial vicar of St. Theresa Parish in North Reading, Mass.
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