One of my favorite verses in the stories of Jesus’ healing ministry comes from the Gospel of Luke. It tells of Jesus healing at the end of a long day: “At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them” (4:40). There is something so tranquil in this single, beautiful verse. But behind this tranquility is something gritty and real: a man who was utterly consumed with compassion, who loved the crowds even when they pressed in on him and did not rest until he had touched every single one.
We may be overwhelmed by the needs of the world. We may fear that we don’t have the stamina or the compassion of Jesus. But when Jesus looked at the crowds, he saw one person at a time—one need at a time. This must be our way too. Start with the person closest to you, and do what you can.
—from St. Anthony Messenger‘s “Encounter Jesus the Healer“
by Amy Ekeh
