Thought for Today
Genesis 48:1 After this Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
Psalm 107:17 Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities endured affliction;
Luke 7:2 A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death.
Matthew 8:14 When Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever;
Yesterday, Greta and I had our semi-annual wellness checkup. Afterwards we made an appointment for our semi-annual physical exam and next year’s wellness checkup. Technology plus the shortage of doctors have combined to allow our healthcare network to book appointments more than a year in advance. We, and many who read these Thoughts are ‘of an age.’ As we age, healthcare, both preventative and curative becomes a larger part of our lives. In our lifetimes, we have seen great progress in healthcare. New vaccines have been developed; surgical techniques have been developed; new diagnostic devices have been invented. We are not quite at the ‘tricorder’ (Star Trek reference) stage of medical care; but, such a device is not as far fetched as it was a few years ago.
The past few days, I have noticed several stories on the local newscasts about the surge in influenza in New England and nationally. Having so recently survived the COVID pandemic, it seems an even greater tragedy to me for anyone to catch, much less die from a disease for which we have so long had effective vaccines. During the pandemic, I was amazed to read and hear that approximately 50,000 people in the U.S.A. die annually from influenza.
The Bible doesn’t address physical health at great length. Yet, healing miracles do receive great prominence. A couple of the more notable scriptures that caught my eye this morning include, “Jeramiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?” and, “Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.” The first verse is answered in the beloved hymn There Is a Balm in Gilead, the second has provided us with a nickname for Luke, The Beloved Physician.
“Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus . . . (September 129 – c. 216AD), often anglicized as Galen . . . or Galen of Pergamon, was a Roman and Greek physician, surgeon, and philosopher. Considered to be one of the most accomplished of all medical researchers of antiquity, Galen influenced the development of various scientific disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and neurology, as well as philosophy and logic.” (Wikipedia) “Hippocrates of Kos was a Greek physician who lived from about 450 B.C. to 375 B.C. He is traditionally regarded as the father of medicine.” (livescience.com) Luke was a physician long before Galen and long after Hippocrates. His name was attributed to the third of the synoptic gospels and his importance to the apostle Paul was significant. Throughout human history, physicians have been important in the realm of physical health.
Today, we understand that physical health is inextricably linked to mental and spiritual health. As a Christian, I firmly believe that Jesus Christ is the father of modern spiritual health. I accept and believe the importance of the theology of Luther, Calvin and Bonhoeffer; but, it all began with Jesus. “John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
As a Christian, I don’t have to worry about how that verse applies to those who do not follow the Way, who do not know of or believe in Jesus as the Christ. I do know; I do believe in Jesus as the Christ. After all, Jesus also said, “John 14:2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” I am comfortable trusting Jesus to know to which dwelling place to take each of God’s children. And, having taken care of my physical wellness yesterday with our PCP, I will pray with Jesus every night to take care of my spiritual wellness. Is it time for you to have a spiritual wellness checkup? If so, pray.
Stay safe, pray often, trust God,
Pastor Ray