My Sisters and Brothers in Christ, last Sunday, Dr. Suzanne Shirley Newnham reminded us that most, if not all of us, have need for inner healing from the scars we continue to carry from those hurts we sometimes do not want to remember, or those too painful to share with anyone. As I listened to her sermon, I had to be honest with myself that she was in fact correct.  Yes, I do have scars from hurts of long ago which I prefer to have tucked away in some far deep corner, pretending they do not exist. But then the question is – have I been healed from those hurts? Is tucking them away the answer? Are we always aware that we are sometimes carrying wounds from past experiences into our present reality and therefore, in need of healing to prevent any negative impact that action could have? Sometimes we honestly don’t.  As far as we are concerned, such hurt/hurts are things in our past and we have moved on.  But have we really? It’s only when something triggers a reminder, like the sermon on Sunday or a news report for example, that we realize that we have not really gotten over the hurt/hurts, but there is hope.  Hope in the risen Lord.

1 Peter 5: 6 – 7, exalts us to humble ourselves before God, casting all our cares upon Him for He cares for us.  What an assurance! God cares about our hurts, yes, He does.  The Great Physician is ready and waiting for us to come to Him with all our hurts, with all our pains, to remove the scars and set us free.  No hurt inflicted by human is beyond His ability, and willingness, to heal.  With Him, nothing is impossible.  In one of His many healing miracles while He walked this earth, Jesus was approached by a man who was afflicted by leprosy and in need of healing.  He knew Jesus could heal him but was uncertain if He was willing to do so (Matthew 8: 1-4; Mark 1: 40 – 45; Luke 5: 12 – 14).  Sickness during those days was seen as punishment for sins committed, and the leper may have seen himself as being unworthy of God’s healing.  With compassion, Jesus assured him of His willingness to heal him by saying “I am willing, be cleansed”.  Today, Jesus is still assuring us of His willingness to heal us.  Whatever that need may be – whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual.  We just need to exercise the faith exercised by those persons thousands of years ago.

And so, as we participate in today’s healing service, as we step forward to receive prayer and the laying on of hands, let us use the opportunity to heed the call of Dr. Shirley Newnham to seek healing for those hidden hurts carefully tucked away. Healing in mind, body and spirit, laying all our brokenness at the foot of the cross and be set free.  May the Lord grant us the strength to say as in Jeremiah 17:14 – “Heal me, O Lord and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise”, as we surrender our entire life to His care.

As a reminder, members of the Order of St. Luke (OSL) are always available and willing to pray for and with you whenever you feel the need for prayer.  Just speak with any member or place your request in the prayer box.

Sisters and Brothers, I bless you with the healing power of Jesus. Amen!

Sonia Stewart-Gordon

OSL Convener