Eucharist as a healing gift.

As a parish pastor, one of my favorite texts for healing ministry is Revelation 21:1-7. John's vision on the island of Patmos gives us hope for life in the New Jerusalem.

A quick glimpse at the facts of today's world makes this vision seem unrealistic. Further analysis of the Caribbean context makes it seem hopeless. One cannot live without noting the impact of economic globalization manifested in crime and violence, barriers of exclusion by gender, race or religion, destruction of creation, challenges of HIV/AIDS pandemic, especially in impoverished situations, political instability, impact of drug trade, deportation of criminal aliens from developed nations to their homeland and the rapid development of technological transformation that leave developing nations way behind. These few facts give us the insight of the many challenges or situations to which the church is called to fulfill its ministry. The Kingdom of God is at hand and the church has a prophetic voice in its ministry with the mission to offer a vision or at least a glimpse of the vision for the healing of the world. The negative impacts we see in our context cannot out weigh the gift of faith; for the gospel of Christ as a Liberating force.

Marks writes in 13:7-10

"But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nations will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations ". Mark 13:4 "Tell us, when will all these things be. And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?"

Mark gives us a sign of hope. Hope in God that through Jesus Christ, the universe is healing and that the church is an agent in the process of healing.

Healing is a Mystery

From the beginning, Jesus performed healing miracles (Mark 1:29-32). Luke says 5:17 "The power of the Lord was with him to heal." The ministry of Christ began in the power of the spirit (Luke 4:18-19) Mark 1:10, proclaiming the Kingdom and affirming that healing is a sign among others, that the rule of God the "acceptable year of the Lord", has been inaugurated. Jesus gave the disciples authority to heal every disease and every infirmity. (Matthew 10:1 and Mark 6:13 reports their success.)

I believe that the gifts of healing are integral part of the mission and message of the church. My vision for healing is rooted in the fulfillment of the ministry of the church through Word and Sacrament. The gospel is a liberating force because it is the words of justice. It addresses the wholeness of humanity. Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman (John 4) transformed what might have been a casual conversation into a powerful therapeutic analysis which penetrated her outward poise, revealed chaos and conflict in her emotional life and confronted her with Christ as the answer to her deepest needs. This story expresses the extravagant love of Christ even for those who live in poverty, loneliness and despair. In her dialogue she asked a spiritual question, "Where then do you get that living water?" Jesus replied ..." The water that I will give you will become in you a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. "Christ's appearance in our midst has made it undeniably clear that changing the human heart and changing human society are not separate tasks, but are as interconnected as the two beams of the cross.

Many around the world do not have the privilege of basic necessity of pure drinking water. Yet the gospel gives us the hope to struggle for life. Many are unable to experience directive counseling, or modern psychiatric attention and clinical therapeutic techniques, yet God's word is healing. The facts of life that burden the human condition seem innumerable but the gift of faith is given to all humanity. How often Jesus says to us,

"Woman your faith has made you well."

Christ is acutely aware of emotional conflict, resentment, fear, anxiety, hatred, anger and guilt. The gospel brings healing to the mind, body and spirit.

My vision for the healing of the world through the Word is that both women and men must be given the privilege and opportunities to proclaim the gospel. That the gospel of Christ must reach all nations. For the healing power of Christ and the gift of healing are given to an inclusive community of faith. So often the church forgets that it is Christ who gave the authority to preach and heal. In forgetting, we run the risk of acting as the healer. Christ is the healer and distributes the gifts of healing to the church so that through the whole church we can engage in the process of healing. Faith in the name of Jesus Christ, prayer and the anointing with oil and the laying of hands on all belong to the healing process. Healing and forgiveness of sins are mysterious acts of God through the activity of the Holy Spirit.

My vision for healing is through the Sacrament and the Holy Communion. It is a vision of an inclusive community where all are equal around the Lord's Table. Matthew 20:15 Jesus reminds us, "Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good? The goodness of Christ is revealed to us as we gather to partake in the meal around the Lord's Table. Christ alone decides who is worthy to come and share in the meal. The meal is for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ who is the Savior of the world. For God so loved the world that God gave us Jesus Christ whose presence in bread and wine brings healing. Christ distributes the measure of grace and faith, for Christ is the host at every meal.

My vision for healing through Sacrament includes a table that does reflects impartiality. The mystery of the Sacrament for the Lord's Supper is healing for many who are suffering in silence. Many who are crippled with infirmity, yet their very presence touch the heart of Jesus. Luke 13:1-7 Jesus saw the woman, she was cut off, from the full participation in the life of faith-literally and spiritually. Jesus called her, touched her, lay hands upon her and drew her close into the community of faith, "daughter of Abraham, your faith has made you well".

In her healing experience, God speaks healing to all women of every generation, race, class and culture. It is healing for any woman who is suffering from feelings of inadequacy and low self esteem to reach out and touch Jesus, and to feel Christ's touch of forgiveness, restoration and love.

Mystery of the Holy Communion

Genuine communion among persons around the Lord's Table is a sign and fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit who brings peace, love, hope, generosity, charity and so forth. The mystery of healing through the Sacrament of Holy Communion is beyond human comprehension. It is God's divine gift to humanity. The spirit gathers together in Christ, persons who would not otherwise gather, making possible a true union of hearts and minds. The spirit accomplishes unity-amidst-diversity. The mystery of the uniqueness of the spirit's personhood lies in the healing activity of what the spirit does: uniting everyone and everything with God through Jesus Christ. The spirit is the principle of union and communion. We cannot determine the activity of the Holy Spirit and therefore my vision for healing through Word and Holy Communion is an insight of the vision of the New Jerusalem:

"Then, I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with humankind and God will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God self will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes: there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. Thee shall be nor more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then God who sat on the throne said. "Behold, I make all things new. "And God said to me, "Write for these words are true and faithful.". And God said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of water of life freely to anyone who thirsts. And the one who overcomes shall inherit all, and I will be her/his God and she/he will be my child." (John 21:2-7)

The mission of every Christian being sent forth is the same as the mission of Christ and the spirit: to do the will of God, to proclaim the good news of salvation, to bring peace and concord, to justify hope in the final return of all things to God. The church is an icon of God's saving and healing love. For me it is in the unique experience of being church that I can see clearly the vision for the healing of the world.

REV. MARGARET ROBERTS

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana

Regional Coordinator, WICAS