Healing takes place in community. We are not created to be alone or isolated. In the New Testament, the gospels include stories of Jesus and the disciples healing broken bodies, as well as wounded spirits, and restoring people to their communities. Throughout the biblical narrative, we have clear examples of how healing is not only physical but also spiritual, emotional and social. To this we might add intellectual, financial and vocational.
In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, we begin to see how we each are called to participate as ministers and care for each other: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
God is at work in our communities through us, not only through our pastors or our missionaries, but through each person who comes into the faith community.
This message is adapted from “Faith reflections: Finding spiritual, emotional and social healing” written by Christina Auch that first appeared in the November 2014 issue of Cafe. Today we remember Andrew, the apostle.
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