healed for hell?
"Remember, now, you have been cured. Give up your sins so that something worse may not overtake you." —John 5:14
Fr. Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, preached often on healing. One of his frequent exhortations during healing services was: "God heals you for service in His Kingdom. He didn't heal you so you could be the healthiest person in hell!"
Father Al often referred to Peter's mother-in-law as the model of one who received healing. She was suffering from a fever. Jesus healed her, and immediately she got up and began to wait on Jesus and the apostles. That's the goal: to be healed from our physical and spiritual infirmities, and to be healed for service, evangelization, worship, and a life of holiness.
A man had been infirm for thirty-eight years. Jesus then exhorted him to give up his sins so that nothing "worse" could happen to him (Jn 5:14). There is something worse than thirty-eight years of being bedridden: a life of sin and an eternity in hell.
Jesus' healing is both spiritual and physical. He doesn't heal halfway. "Give up your sins" (Jn 5:14) and let Jesus touch you with His healing love for a life of service in His kingdom.
Prayer: Jesus, use me to lead thousands of people to receive Your healing.
Promise: "God is our Refuge and our Strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore we fear not." —Ps 46:2-3
Praise: In imitation of the Father, St. Patrick forgot the sins committed against him (see Ps 103:12). He freely chose to return to his former captors to teach them the good news.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 25, 2014
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