Acts 9

Today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us how St Peter healed Aeneas, a man who had been paralyzed for eight years and revived Dorcas, a faithful Christian woman who had become ill and died subsequently. As Jesus had promised to his disciples, they received the power to heal and revive. Through their deeds of power, more and more people turned to Christ, and the first communities of Christians grew rapidly.

We may wonder why our bishops, priests, and deacons of our times do not cause miraculous healings and revivals as often as the Apostles did. Did they not receive the power to heal? In our times, the healing power has been transferred to medical workers? But wouldn’t it be so beneficial if the world can see miraculous healings so that many people come and join the Church and receive the gift of salvation? Why is God not so generous as before? Why are our clergy so powerless? Wasn’t it one of the main ministries of Jesus to heal the sick?

Every time I come back from grocery shopping, especially from major distribution centres, I see I am a part of the problem, not of the solution. I create or pay for the creation of harmful wastes – all those wrappings and containers. Many of my cookware in the rectory is not safe – potentially carcinogenic. A vast number of household products, building materials, clothes, you name it, emit environmental hormones. I have been poisoning myself and others by my choices and by my dollars. Then, do I expect I can heal others? Shouldn’t I stop killing first?

Yes, it is almost unavoidable in our times not to choose this harmful lifestyle. But it is still true I am a part of the problem. It would be contradictory and hypocritic for me to heal a cancer patient while I buy potentially carcinogenic products. That’s why God does not give me the power to heal. Unless I try to heal myself and stop harming others, God will not grant me the power to heal others. Only then, I might be hoping to see an increase in new converts.