A Theology of Healing

Cover of "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 

Matthew 4:23(KJV)

Sometimes you are given the gift of words and that is what happened, specifically, a sermon delivered by Dr. Sam Wells at Duke Chapel on February 15, 2009, titled “Does God Heal?” .  His words were “good old news”!  How did I miss this sermon?  At about the same time, I began reading my granddaughter’s recommended novel, Wonder, by R. J. Palacio.  Here is a story of healing that is a hit among 9 year olds!

The problem is how we understand what we are asking for and how this is relates to the healing as reported in the Bible.  What is clear is that we all need to know where “God Is?” in the midst of disease and pain!  An emphasis of Dr. Wells is the importance of the definitions and how they help us understand our deepest questions.  For Auggie, the protagonist in Wonder, we become part of a story of courage and caring in the real world of suspicion, doubt and fear.  This is a wonderful story of healing!

For Christians we have the powerful model of Jesus Christ who not only healed those around him, but brought healing to a suffering world where we have the privilege to be a part of His work.  We have been blessed with stories/sermons that get us close to the healing that is around us that we fail to name!  

Thanks,

Marvin

References;

Sermon by Dr. Sam Wells, 2/15/’2009 at Duke Chapel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKpS8zgg6TE

Palacio, R. J. (2013). Wonder. Random House. 

Interview with the author RJ Palacio 

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=221005752&m=221844123

Hage, M. L. (2010). Healing Agents: Christian Perspectives Second Edition (2 ed.)

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Hage, M. L. (2011). The Mystery of Healing. 

Retrieved from http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2011/04/mystery-of-healing.html

Hage, M. L. (2012). Recognizing Healing. 

Retrieved from http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2012/04/recognizing-healing.html

Hage, M. L. (2013). The Nature of Healing. Retrieved from 

http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-nature-of-healing.html

Healing Art

Doctor and Doll by Norman Rockwell

“‘In the last days, God says,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

    your young men will see visions,

    your old men will dream dreams.

Acts 2:17 (NIV)

We just finished a wonderful and color-filled autumn trip to the Northeast United States.  One of the highlights was the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.  I was moved by the character and vision of this man as captured in his voluminous depictions of American life and ideals.  

Where are we to find this kind of healing vision?  How can we capture a healing art in this complicated and cynical world?  My conclusion is that just like this Norman Rockwell image, it is found in both the old and the young where reality is created despite the evidence.  It is found in the visions of both!  It doesn’t deny the evidence, it sees beyond it.  Thanks for the healing art of Norman Rockwell.

Marvin

References

The Norman Rockwell Museum http://www.nrm.org/

Hage, M. L. (2011). Healing - Other Views. 

  Retrieved from http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2011/08/healing-other-views.html

Hage, M. L. (2011). Healing, HeLa and Heaven.

  Retrieved from http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2011/05/healing-hela-and-heaven.html