by Charlie Hatchko
1 Timothy 5:23 St. Paul states, "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments." Sacred Scripture gives numerous affirmation and evidence regarding medicine and disease. Sacred Scripture gives affirmation regarding sicknesses, infirmities and healings. Disease in Scripture can be seen from a religious perspective for disobedience against the commands of God. The afflictions are the punishment and wrath of God for disobedience. Sacred Scripture gives magnificent evidence that man was created in the image and likeness of God. Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 5:1! Wisdom 2:23 gives evidence that man was created for incorruption. Wisdom 2:24 states, "But through the devil's envy death entered the world". Romans 5:12 and 1 Cor. 15:22 gives evidence that sin entered the world through one man and through sin death entered the world. Rom. 6:23 St. Paul exhorts, "The wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". Sacred Scripture gives more magnificent evidence that in Jesus Christ there is eternal life. John 3:16-John 10:28 and John 11:26!
Jesus Christ is the Divine healer, healing both physical and spiritual needs. In John 10:10 Jesus exhorts, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." There are medical and hygienic instructions in Scripture for disease. The following Scriptures give evidence of Boils.
Sacred Scripture gives evidence regarding Fever. In Leviticus 26:16, Sacred Scripture gives affirmation that through disobedience to the commandments, if the people would not hearken to the Lord and if the soul of the Israelites spurns the statutes and ordinances of God and breaks the covenant, he would send forth fever upon them. Deut. 28:20-22 states, "The Lord will send upon you curses, confusion, and frustration, in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly, on account of the evil of your doings, because you have forsaken me. The Lord will make the pestilence cleave to you until he has consumed you off the land which you are entering to take possession of it. The Lord will smile you with consumption, and with fever, inflammation, and fiery heat, and with drought, and with blasting, and with mildew, they shall pursue you until you perish". Mark 1:30- Simon's mother-in-law laid sick with fever, Jesus was told of this and immediately took her by the hand and lifted her up and the fever left her. John 4:52 At Capernaum, where the official whose son was ill. Acts 28:8 At the island were the chief man named Publius father was strickened with fever and dysentery. Sacred Scripture gives affirmation of diseases and mental illness in the Bible. Insanity Daniel 4:33! Epilepsy, Matthew 17:15! Demoniacs, Epileptics and Paralytics are mentioned in Matthew 4:24! Ulcers, scurvy and the itch. Deut. 28:27! Dropsy Luke 14:2! Tumors 1 Samuel 5:6! Hemorrhage-Issue of blood from woman Matt. 9:20
Let us look at the words of Jesus Christ of magnitude and importance regarding sickness and disease. Every disease is not because of sin of the individual or his family: In John 9:3 Jesus gives affirmation and magnificent evidence regarding afflictions and disease. Here Jesus gives evidence when he saw a blind man from birth. Jesus states, "It was not that this man was a sinner, or his parents, but that works of God may be made manifest in him." Let us look at the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke's gospel Luke 10:25-37. Scripture gives evidence that the good Samaritan poured oil and wine on the wounds in verse thirty-four giving affirmation here of the therapeutic qualities of oil and wine. Along with the first Biblical text mentioned by the apostle St. Paul to Timothy to use wine for an ailment and other medicinal purposes, Sacred Scripture gives immense affirmation of different herbs used for medicinal purpose that truly have therapeutic qualities. The therapeutic use of oil for healing and for Sacraments can be found in the Scriptures. In Mark 6:13 Sacred Scriptures gives definite affirmation of the use of oil. Scripture states that the disciples of Christ anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them. James 5:14-15 states, "Is any among you sick? Let them call the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." In Mark 15:23 Sacred Scripture gives evidence that wine mingled with myrrh was a pain lotion offered to Jesus Christ who was being crucified. Through nature God provided healing through different herbs, many can be used for medicinal purposes.
Let us look at the Old Testament book of Sirach 38:1-8 Scripture states, "Honor the physician with the honor due to him, according to your need of him, for the Lord created him, for healing comes from the Most High, and he will receive a gift from the king. The skill of the physician lifts up his head, and in the presence of great men he is admired. The Lord created medicines from the earth, and a sensible man will not despise them. Was not water made sweet with a tree in order that his power might be known? And he gave skill to men that he might be glorified in his marvelous works. By them he heals and takes away pain; the pharmacist makes of them a compound. His works will never be finished; and from him health is upon the earth." Let us never forget the doctor and pharmacist's knowledge and skill is from God. In fact, Scripture gives evidence that St. Luke was a physician. In Colossians 4:14, St. Luke is called the doctor, the beloved physician. The greatest healing is the healing of the soul, the forgiveness of sins. Jesus Christ is the Divine physician. Acts 4:12 gives evidence that salvation is in no other name. Sacred Scripture gives evidence of the physical and spiritual healings of Christ and his disciples. Exorcisms and deliverance are included. Matt. 4:24-Matt. 8:7-Matt. 10:1-Matt. 12:13-Matt. 13:15;Mark 1:34-Mark 3:10-Mark 6:5-Mark 6:13-Mark 6:56! Luke 4:38-40--Luke 5:15-Luke 6:18-Luke 7:7-Luke 8:47 Luke 9:11-Luke 17:15-Luke 18:42-Luke 22:51-John 5:10-Acts 3:7-10-Acts 4:22-Acts 5:16-Acts 8:7-Acts 10:38 and Acts 28:8! These are a few Scriptures regarding healing.
Water is symbolic of purification, healing and salvation in Sacred Scripture. We are saved in the waters of baptism and our sins are forgiven. John 3:5-7-Titus 3:4-5-Acts 2:38-39 and 1 Peter 3:21-22! Because of the love and mercy of God by his grace let us recognize our wretchedness, wickedness, impiety, self-reliance and sinfulness and turn to Christ Jesus in faith and repentance. The Blood of Jesus Christ shed on the Cross is the atonement for the sins of humanity! 1 Cor. 1:18 St. Paul exhorts, "For the word of the cross is folly, it is absurdity to those who are perishing, but to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God unto salvation for those who have faith. The blood of Christ shed on the cross is the greatest weapon against sin." Rom. 3:21-26 and Rom. 5:8-9 give evidence that the blood of Christ is our justification Eph. 1:7-1 Peter 1:18-19 and Rev. 1:5 gives evidence redemption comes through the blood of Christ, our sins are freed by the blood of Christ. The greatest healing comes through the Eucharistic blood of Christ. John 6:53-57 gives evidence of the power of Christ through the Eucharist. Remember the words of faith of the Centurion in Matthew's gospel. Matt. 8:8 "Lord I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed."
May God Richly Bless You! Amen! Hallelujah!
Charlie Hatchko
The Catholic Legate
August 1, 2004
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Originally published in the Lackawanna
County News November 4, 2000. You gotta see it to believe it,
folks!