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IN
THIS ISSUE:
Cover
Page
by Bro.
Pete Lapid
The
Father Speaks
by Fr.
Siegfrid Binzler
SPECIAL:
Place
of Refuge
By
Philip Yuson
Sharing
By
Tintin Magbitang
Our
Faith
By Fr.
KJ Veeger, MSC
Surabaya
Corner
By
Ramon Martillano
Sharing
By
Carolle Bautista
Here's
the Latest
By
Tintin Magbitang
Reflection
Homily
by
Fr.
Martinus
God
Answers Prayers
By
Beth Manibog
Saint
for the Month
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 - PROFILE
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PLACE OF REFUGE
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 If
anyone is sick, let him call
on the elders of the Church. They shall pray for him, anointing him
with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer said in faith will save
the sick person; the Lord will raise him up and if he has committed
any sins, he will be forgiven.
There will be healing if you confess your sins to one
another and pray for each other. The prayer of the upright man has
great power, provided he perseveres. - James 5:14-16
Disclaimer: I am apprehensive
writing about this topic because I know that I personally need
healing. I for one have lots of hurt feelings and resentments that
have to be healed. Added to this is my own sinful nature, I feel that
I cannot write something about healing when I myself need healing. May
the Lord have mercy on me and forgive me for not doing what I say.
The letter of
James is one of the most practical letters in the New Testament.
Tradition has it that this was written by James the 'brother' (cousin)
of the Lord. He was a devout Jew who knew Scripture and was probably
grew up with Our Lord Jesus.
In this passage, he mentioned the act of praying
twice and prayer once. He also mentioned sins twice - once
for forgiveness and another time for confession of sins. We can
therefore conclude that these two things: prayer and repentance are
critical to healing.
Often for charismatics, we hear people speak of healing
prayer. Some have the mistaken notion that the sick will be physically
healed once they are prayed over. And if the person does not get well
after being prayed over, the sick person will even be blamed for lack of
faith. This attitude is wrong and shows insensitivity towards the sick
person.
First of all, the prayer of faith here is required from
the elder or the one who prays over the sick and NOT from the sick.
Secondly, the results of the prayer of faith are described in this verse
also: the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he
will be forgiven.
The prayer of faith therefore acknowledges that God is
the source of healing. The Lord will raise the sick and not the person
who prayed over the sick. We do not have the power to heal - only God
can heal. The prayer of faith requires humility and also trust. It
submits to God and acknowledges that God knows what is best for the sick
person and God will heal the sick according to what is best for the sick
person. We can suggest but in the end, God has the final say.
Secondly and most important, the prayer of faith should lead the sick
person to repentance. We all know that sins are forgiven ONLY if there
is repentance. So if the sins of the sick person are to be forgiven,
there has to be repentance. Repentance is not only being sorry for our
sins, it is turning and moving towards God.
Quite interesting is the last part of the passage. Confess your sins
to one another and pray for each other. Notice that confession is
not only required from the sick BUT also from the person who prays over
the sick. Prayer is also not only for the sick but also for the ones who
pray over the sick.
Those who pray over the sick should also acknowledge
that they too are sinners and need to repent of their sins. We too are
sinners - in the same boat as the sick person we pray over. So we too
have to be humble enough to ask them for THEIR prayers. We have to
realize our sinfulness so that we will not get puffed up and think that
the power to heal comes from us.
May the Lord then give us His grace so that we may be
humble enough to admit that we are sinners and we also need healing - so
that our prayers may be prayers of faith - pleasing to Him - for the
glory of His name - through Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Visit my website at
http://pyuson.tripod.com
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