Reflections on Sickness - Part I

by Very Rev. Fr. Rodney Torbic

Matthew 4:24 - Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics and He healed them.

Sickness afflicts every family. Sickness afflicts friends. Sooner of later, each individual faces sickness in his or her life. Sickness needs to be kept in perspective. The ways of God need to be considered when thinking about sickness.

The Holy Scriptures say Jesus healed people with many different afflictions.

The root causes of afflictions need to be determined. Some illnesses and afflictions occur because of personal decisions and actions.

Proverbs 23:21 states: For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.”  Certain individuals make choices to abuse alcohol or drugs. This proclivity affects the body, mind and soul.

Drug and alcohol abuse affects judgment and bodily functions. Drug and alcohol abuse affects finances and relationships. Drug and alcohol abuse affects work habits and employability.

Gluttony can change a person’s appearance. Gluttony can reduce a person’s energy levels. Gluttony can induce interest in rest rather than in work. Gluttony can cause bodily ailments.

Jesus can heal individuals. Individuals have a responsibility to seek healing. Individuals have a responsibility to treat the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit(I Cor.6:19) Individuals have a responsibility to take good care of the body.

When a person abuses his or her body, illness can occur that causes the person to be dependent on others. In fairness to family, friends and society in general, individuals should do the best they can to care for themselves.

Christians have choices to make when confronted with individuals abusing their bodies. Christians should not facilitate gluttony, alcohol or drug abuse.     Christians can set examples for children and others in the community through the exercise of self-control. The fasts of the Church provide a certain structure to help with gluttony.

Prayer is a form of assistance in struggling against alcohol and drug abuse.

Finding strength in Christ is assistance in combating drug and alcohol abuse. Desiring to repent and turning to the Church is step toward combating drug and alcohol abuse. Looking to God for direction is step toward conquering gluttony.

When a person refrains from continued alcohol or drug abuse, he or she must address the need that gave rise to the abuse. The need must be satisfied with

 Matthew 8:16 - When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.

Jesus can heal a person with a word. Jesus can heal all who are sick. Healing need not always be physical. Healing can mean a change in attitude. Healing can mean an acceptance of a physical affliction while at the same time giving peace of mind and soul.

Recognizing Jesus’ ability to heal provides a hope for believers. Sickness can cause despair when hope seems to vanish. Jesus defeated death. The Gospel gives numerous accounts of Jesus healing people. Hope gives a person strength.

 Demons need not be considered a mental illness in the sense of a psychiatric illness. Demons in a person’s life can mean having to daily or periodically battle against certain tendencies that would bring personal destruction in the physical, moral or spiritual sense.

Love of money, love of power, love of attention can be a form of demonic influence on a person. Struggling against demons may be a life-long endeavor. Giving in to demons can cause personal catastrophe.

Christ can make the difference between personal catastrophe and salvation.

Wise individuals choose Christ. Christ offers nourishment. Christ offers renewal.

Christ offers direction. Christ offers growth.

Christ offers the structure and protection of the Church. Christ offers the haven of the Church. The Church gives support. The Church provides life-long resources. Eternal life becomes the possibility.

 Healing gives a person new life. Healing opens up new realms of possibility for a person. Healing provides certain freedoms for a person. Healing enables a person to put behind them a way of life leading to destruction.

Healing is renewal at each moment of time. At each of moment of time a person can give in to temptation and betray Christ. At each moment of time, a person can yield to weakness and sin extensively.

Vigilance is always a part of the Christian life. To the very last breath, vigilance is necessary. To be vigilant requires discipline and training. Believers need to know the Gospel. Believers need to be nourished by the Gospel. Believers need to be partakers of the Precious Body and Blood of Christ. Holy Confession has a regular place in the life of believers.          

Drug and alcohol rehab centers, jails and prisons, are places where individuals abusing drug and alcohol can be located. The impact of the abuse can be dramatically experienced through talking to families of victims of homicide by a motor vehicle while driving under the influence.

Hospital staffs can tell the effects of gluttony on individuals. Spouses or former spouses can provide details of the effects of substance abuse and gluttony.

Matthew 9:12 - When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Everyone sins. Everyone is in need of healing. Christ is the Great Physician. Christ is the Great Healer. Only Christ was perfect. Only Christ was without sin.

The heart of each believer needs cleansing by Christ. The mind of each believer needs cleansing by Christ. The soul of each believer needs the healing of Christ.

A big first step is taken when a person realizes the need for Christ. A big first step is taken when a person senses his or her own sinfulness. When a person acknowledges his or her sins, action can be taken to seek forgiveness.

Holy Confession provides healing. Holy Confession lifts burdens from an individual. Holy Confession reduces stress in life.

Confession enables a person to rid the heart and mind of past actions and thoughts leading to destruction. A person can begin anew in Christ following Holy Confession. Holy Communion unites a person with Christ.

In Christ a person can develop talents and use resources in ways hitherto not considered. In Christ a person can feel strengthened and inspired to do things previously unimaginable.

A person can feel wholeness in Christ. A person can find peace in Christ. A person can come to understand his or her place in life in Christ. A person can experience hope beyond the grave when believing in Christ.

Life is seen anew when seen through Christ. The earth is viewed differently when viewed through Christ. Relationships are defined in Christ. Responsibilities are defined in Christ.

Joy exists in Christ. Joy is experienced when healing occurs. The joy of being healed lifts a person’s vision and expectations. Jesus defined the individuals in need. Jesus pointed to the needs of the sick.

Parish churches establish a culture. Parishioners contribute to the culture of the parish by the way they live. The healing potential in a parish increases when parishioners are faithful to Christ.

Individuals faithful to Christ reveal the healing power of Christ to others.

Afflicted individuals see Christ at work in the lives of faithful believers. Afflicted individuals can be motivated to seek Christ when seeing Christ at work in the lives of others.

Persons reaching a state of desperation may reach out to Christ as the last hope. No one who reaches out to Christ in sincerity is disappointed. The good thief on the cross turned to Christ at the last hour and was saved. (Lk.23:39-43)

Individuals do not know when the last moment of life will be. Wise individuals choose Christ every moment of life. Wise individuals prepare for the end of earthly life and the Second Coming of Christ by seeking healing.

Matthew 10:8 - Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Jesus commissioned His disciples to be healers (Lk.10:5-8) Holy Unction is served in the Holy Orthodox Church and provides healing for the faithful. Sick individuals can turn to the Church and receive Holy Unction in times of need.

The Lord Jesus Christ sent forth His disciples. Present day hierarchs are successors to the Holy Apostles. Present day priests are ordained through the canonical laying on of hands.

Priests are authorized to hear confessions and to serve the Divine Liturgy, giving to those who draw near, the Precious Body and Blood of Christ. Priests are authorized to counsel parishioners and to refer them to others when additional professional help is needed.

Priests are authorized to pray for the sick. Parishioners have the ability to pray for each other. Healings can come through intercessory prayer. The priest does not operate in a vacuum. He serves in the midst of the parish community.

Education is necessary to learn about the healings of Christ. Education is necessary learn about the Holy Mysteries of the Church. Parishioners normally only spend a relatively small amount of time in learning situations in the Church. Generally adults only attend the Divine Liturgy.

For individuals to grasp the extensiveness of the Holy Mysteries, study is required. Ideally, individuals attend classes where the opportunity to learn more about and discuss the Holy Mysteries is a reality.

Individuals need to pursue answers to questions by coming to church and praying. Individuals need to peace by coming to church and repenting. Individuals need to experience the love of Christ in the Divine services of the Church.

Repentance is necessary throughout life. Individuals betray and fall away from Christ every day. Drawing near to Christ and remaining near to Christ requires a hunger for Christ and an interest in being united with Christ.

At baptism the whole person is dedicated to Christ. Honoring this dedication is a life-long expectation. The choice to be a Christian is a voluntary choice. Remaining a Christian is a voluntary choice. Being a faithful Christian requires determination and interest.

Every individual baptized does not remain faithful to Christ. Only a percentage of baptized individuals are serious about Christ throughout life.   Each person determines whether he or she is among the serious and the faithful by the decisions made during the course of life.