Do You Want To Be Well? -John 5:6

After falling from a bicycle a few weeks ago I was left with a bloody knee, a swollen knee, and bleeding hands. After the fall of our first parents we were left with a fallen nature and the need for a Savior. Three weeks ago I fell pretty hard from a bicycle. Rinsing my hands, applying peroxide and ointment, and bandaging up my hands became my routine for the next few days after falling. I would have to wake up a tad bit earlier and make sure that I carefully took care of the wounds on my hands and knees. Fortunately, soon after I fell the nurse at the school where I work told me that I should stop applying hydrogen peroxide because it was too harsh for my skin. She told me that soap, water, and the anti-bacterial cream were just enough. She also recommended that I remove the bandages at night to let my hands breathe. Little by little I became less afraid of taking the bandages off and of using my hands again. As days turned into weeks and I could see a significant difference in my hands I couldn’t help but think of the process of healing. Sure, I was thinking of the slow but surely process of my skin healing, but I was mostly reflecting on the healing of our souls, minds, and bodies.

We are all affected by the fall of our first parents. We came into this world with a fallen nature. We live with disordered passions, a broken will, and a darkened intellect. Yet, Jesus wants to heal these broken faculties of ours and heal the brokenness of our minds and bodies.

Just like I had to look at my hands and assess the situation after falling from the bike, we have to become aware of our fallen state. Not only that, we each have to be honest with ourselves and recognize where we are more prone to falling. Where do you struggle? With jealousy, sloth, unchastity, wrath, deception? Jesus wants to enter there and heal you. He wants to comfort you, touch the scars of your sins, wash you, anoint you, and cover you with His mercy. Or maybe you need healing from trauma, wounds from a missing family member, sickness, recurring memories. Let Him in because He wants to touch and restore those areas in your life. I had to make sure I was using the right cream, and I had to stop using the hydrogen peroxide in order to get better. Similarly, we have to say “yes” to what will give us life and “no” to what will keep us in darkness. We have to make sure that the people we surround ourselves with will lead us to the light. If I hadn’t shown my wounds to Nurse Michaels, I would have kept pouring peroxide on my hands not knowing that it would actually hurt me. Thank God for her expertise and advice for me to do otherwise! Do we share our brokenness with others and let them guide us to restoration? Seeing my scars heal, close up, and practically disappear wasn’t over night. Neither is healing. Healing takes time. Even three weeks later I still can’t move my hands like I used to before falling. So I continue to take care of my hands and remember my limitations. This is what we must do on a day to day basis. There are temptations, situations, people, and mindsets that won’t help our healing. Will we choose to rebuke the evil one as he lurks as a lion waiting to devour or will we answer with a strong “YES” to Jesus, as He asks us, “Do you want to be well?” If your answer is “YES” then what are you waiting for? What is He calling you to do to get on the road to recovery? What does your “YES” entail? Is it calling a friend and sharing your struggles? Is it rebuking the evil one and choosing to walk away from a sinful lifestyle? Is it returning to His arms in the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist? If you’re not sure what steps to take in order to find healing then open up to trusted family member or friend. I know I couldn’t have gotten home the night I fell without friends who walked with me, washed my hands, gave me ice, drove me, fed me and checked-up on me. If you don’t have someone to talk to write to me and I will do my best to support you and walk with you so you can be well.