True Healing - Holy Wednesday
Too often we want to use the Faith as magic to make our pain disappear. But something much more profound is going on today.
On this Holy Wednesday:
Let us pray to the Lord,
Lord, have mercy.
O Lord who, in Your mercies and bounties, heals the disorders of our souls and bodies, do the same Master, sanctify this Oil, that it may be effectual for those who shall be anointed therewith, unto healing, and unto relief from every passion, every malady of the flesh and of the spirit, and every ill; and that therein may be glorified Your most Holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
On this day, we approach the grace of God in His Church as the Church offers us the continuation of the healing ministry of our Lord Jesus. In the Holy Unction service, we come for healing, not just physical healing but complete healing of soul and body. This holy oil sacramentally brings us close to Him, Who is our healing, but not just healing our physical needs. This healing is meant to “solve” the only eternal poverty, and that is the poverty of the soul!
Look at our Gospel Lesson today in Matthew 26:6-16:
When Jesus was at Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment and she poured it on his head, as he sat at table. But when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for a large sum, and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
All too often, we are tempted by magical thinking and think that if we simply go and get the “magic” oil, God is somehow obligated to make us feel better. But this reduction of the divine mystery of Holy Unction can never rise to the lofty reality of the mystery of the Church. This shallow thinking leaves us in our poverty! This shallow thinking makes betrayal of our Lord and His Church possible in our hearts! This shallow thinking leads us to give a “kiss as did Judas” and betray our faith for the fool’s gold of temporary riches!
The truth is all the divine mysteries of the Church do only one thing! From the Eucharist to Marriage, to Ordination, to Baptism, to Unction, to Chrismation, to Confession, and to all the other ways God communicates His grace to us, these divine mysteries accomplish one necessary task! They bring us into intimate communion with God, Who IS our Healing, our Life, our Salvation, our only true Lover, and our greatest Treasure! The mysteries of the Church bring us closer to God, and it is this closeness, this intimate connection with God, that heals, saves, and gives life to us as we participate in the life of the Church.
TODAY, we receive Him, Who is our healing in the mystery of holy oil. This isn’t some “magic” formula or rite performed by the tribal medicine man to make your headache disappear. This is nothing less than being brought close to Him. Whose footsteps in the Garden struck fear in the hearts of Adam and Eve when they disobeyed. But now we are able, by the grace of God, to once again intimately walk with Him in His kingdom and bask in the spiritual riches that make us wealthy beyond measure!
As you approach the Holy Oil today, rejoice that God Himself comes to you to heal all your diseases, especially the ones in your hearts. Blessed Holy Wednesday to you! Finish well!
P.S. See! The Bridegroom sets forth in the dead of night. And blessed is that servant whom he shall find on watch; unworthy the one he shall come upon lazing. See to it, soul, that sleep does not overtake you, lest you be given up to death and be shut out of the kingdom. Bestir yourself, then, and sing out: "Holy, holy, holy are You, our God; by the power of Your Cross, save us."
Share this devotional with several other people. It is available to everyone as we celebrate Holy Week!