The Sunday Sermon Archive

Dear Friends in Christ,

One of the central doctrines Jesus teaches is the resurrection from the dead. As with many of His teachings, He begins with smaller signs to prepare us for greater truths. In the Gospels, we see Him cure the sick and the infirm, often healing their souls as well: "Your faith has made you whole." (Mat. 9:22; Mark 5:34; Mark10:52; Luke17:19; Luke 18:42). From there, Jesus shows compassion for the living by restoring their departed loved ones to them, as He does in today's Gospel reading of the widow's son (Luke 7:11-16). Moved by compassion for the widow who had lost her only son, He restores the young man to life and returns him to his mother. Jesus gives the fullest proof of this doctrine when He Himself rises from the dead on Easter Sunday. This miracle of resurrection should fill us with hope and trust in God's divine life, inspiring us to believe in the promise of eternal life.

Jesus' Body is Life. We see that Jesus, by His words, could work miracles, but He also shows us that His human body has this same power. He took a dead girl by the hand and restored her to life (Mat. 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56). In today's Gospel reading, He touched the stretcher and commanded the young man to arise. The very Body that Jesus took from His Blessed Mother is Divine. His Body has Divine Life or is Divine Life Itself and is capable of creating life. Recognizing this divine power should fill us with reverence and deepen our awe for the sacred mystery we receive in the Eucharist, reminding us of His divine authority over life and death.

It is a very sad state of affairs when so many Catholics rarely think of what they are doing when they receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus is touching them with His Divine Flesh and Blood. His touch has the power to heal and to restore. We have accounts of many Eucharistic miracles, but why not for us today? The problem is in us — in our lack of faith. Jesus often asked those whom He cured if they believed, and after their cure or blessing, He reminded them that their faith had made them whole.

Perhaps we need to be rebuked for our lack of faith. Maybe we should earnestly pray to Jesus as the man who said: "I believe. Lord help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23)

Maybe we are spiritually blind or dull-witted. How many evils, illnesses, or accidents have we been spared from because we received Jesus in Holy Communion? Is it not true that things could and probably should be much worse for us miserable sinners than they are?

Still, it is willed by God that we should die a physical death in this world, so that we may rise to a new life in Christ at the end of time. A renewed life in a renewed world. If we are to rise from the dead, it logically follows that we must first die. Death is a passage that frees us from this life and prepares us for eternal life. Illness or injury, seen as evils, are gifts from God that help us detach from this world and long for the eternal life promised through the resurrection.

The patient and loving bearing of these crosses: illness, handicaps, accidents, and death are great means for us to atone for our many offenses against God and thereby avoid being punished in Hell or shorten the necessary purging of our souls in the fires of Purgatory. Far from complaining of our crosses, we should be most grateful for them.

It is only in truly loving God that we begin to see and understand these profound truths. Only by truly loving God do we develop the faith necessary to be made whole.

As we receive Jesus Sacramentally or in Spiritual Communion, let us seriously consider with true faith the Power of God and count the many blessings we have received. As we repent of our sins and declare our unworthiness (Lord, I am not worthy!), may we also recall that His Word as well as His Body is Life. When we receive Him, we receive Life. Even as our physical bodies grow old or ill, the Body of Jesus gives us spiritual life through faith and eternal physical life after the resurrection.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us.

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