Healing is about Mercy
We live in a society torn apart by anger and division. We listen to the words of politicians as if they are enemies. We doubt the ability of anyone, except ourselves naturally, to repent. We call vengeance by another name, pretending it to be justice. We admit the world is sick, but they are the sick ones. They need healing.
Healing cannot take place so long as we live in division. We cannot survive in an ‘us vs. them’ society. If we believe they are the only ones who need healing, our illness has distorted our judgment. There is a reason Christ said, “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7.5)
Today is the Feast of Saint Panteleimon the Great Martyr, one of the unmercenary doctor saints. His name means ‘all merciful’ and we could learn more than just a few lessons from him. He healed using his own resources leaning heavily on the grace of God. Indeed, it was his healing through God’s grace which eventually was the cause of his martyrdom.
If our society is to experience any healing at all, we each need to become like Saint Panteleimon. We need to use our resources to show mercy rather than anger. We need to lean on God’s grace rather than our own political agenda.
Naturally there will be those who fight against us. Just remember, they are fighting against God, not against us, as it teaches in today’s Gospel lessons.
The Lord said to his disciples: “This I command you, to love one another. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. It is to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’ But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.”
John 15:17-27; 16:1-2
Saint Panteleimon didn’t think himself better than Christ, and neither should we. The world will surely fight against the Church. The world will even kill some of us, but not all of us.
The Lord said to his disciples, “Beware of men who will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
Luke 21.12-19
We cannot avoid being persecuted as Christians. We also cannot change the hearts of those who hate God. All we can do is be merciful as our Father is merciful. (see Luke 6.36) A doctor can only heal those who want to be healed. Instead of forcing our healing on them, be merciful to them. Maybe by our compassion their hearts will soften and be healed.
