Post-feast of the Transfiguration; Holy Apostle Matthias
Dormition Fast.
Read
Acts 1:12-17,21-26; Luke 9:1-6
Today’s Gospel lesson gives us two important aspects of the mission of the Church—instructed by Jesus Christ: proclamation of the Kingdom and healing ministry. These two works of the Church are inseparable. Without the Kingdom present there is no healing and we hopelessly continue to live in our broken and fallen state. Our fallenness is a direct result from our separation from God and this is what brought about our suffering, so we are in desperate need of the presence of the Kingdom in the world and our lives. We are like a dry barren desert in need of
Physical restoration is something that God, in Christ Jesus, has already taken care of. The universal resurrection which will occur at the second coming of our Lord will restore our human bodies, so we do not have to obsess with health care and how we can live to one hundred fifty years. The Lord is asking for our cooperation in the healing of our heart and soul. This is the key to our salvation. Jesus wants us to worry about the health of our heart. Without inner healing we cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. This is why the primary concern of the Church is the spiritual state of a person. The teaching of the Church is always founded on this concern. Will a certain thing bring about spiritual benefit and a greater closeness with the Lord and our neighbour or not? If the answer is no then the Church always advises to stay clear from whatever is harmful. Not only does our spiritual healing depend on it, but our salvation.