Words that Heal

Dr Bobby Moore led an "Awakening  the Soul" retreat in our friary in Rossnowlagh last August. It was a great grace for all who took part. On his website he speaks of the journey to freedom and peace we are all on. 

What struck me was his emphasis on the power of listening and conversation to heal.

"Most of the people and groups I work with paint vivid pictures of profound loneliness and crippling isolation as their core dilemma.  Attempted solutions have often resulted in ultimately damaging and destructive relationships and behaviours.  

However, at some point desire from within awakens the realisation that there is another more productive way.  They initiate a conversation with me because there is something right with them rather than something wrong.

Generative conversations and empathic listening have the capacity to heal and restore.  Words weave webs of connection that form bridges for meaning and emotional relationship.  They offer an opportunity to re-connect with our Source, to remember who we are and to restore our lives to their highest level.

‘They can be a great help – words.

They can become the Spirit’s hands and lift and caress you.’  (Meister Eckhart)

Conversations heal by replacing the internal destructive voices of judgement, cynicism and fear with the resourceful voices of acceptance, hope and compassion."

No Running from our Brokenness

In his very first homily as Pope, Benedict XVI said: “The Pope must be conscious of being a frail and weak man, since his strength is frail and weak, constantly needing purification and conversion.” 

Just as well for him and for us! If the Pope was perfect he would not need the mercy of Christ; if he had no sins and failings he would have nothing to say to us who are frail and struggling.

The great spiritual guides, past and present, tell us:  do not run from your brokenness, do not flee the tensions and paradoxes of your life; do not hide the imperfections from yourself or God. 

True healing comes, not from redefining the goal to allow us to declare ourselves perfect, but from a compassionate, grace-filled vision of life in which our weaknesses can be lived with even as we seek to grow and deepen.  

Not to need God and his compassion and grace because of our imagined perfection would be the worst of fates.

The Eucharist as Poultice

Some years ago I came across a quote from a medieval English writing, The Epistle of Privy Counsel. The faith-filled message has stayed with me.

It speaks with beautiful simplicity of our encounter with God as healing and life-giving. The image of the poultice is used.  A  poultice is a home-made remedy that is laid on a festering wound to draw out the poison.

'Take good and gracious God, just as he is,

and without further ado

lay him on your sick self  just as you are,

for all the world as if he were a poultice.

For touching God is eternal health.

You are touching his very being,

his own dear self, no more, no less.'

Particularly, when sharing in the Eucharist, I recall this image if I am aware of being burdened in some way. 

Just before receiving we pray: 'Only say the word and I shall be healed.' We are invited in simple trust  to bring ourselves with all our needs to the Lord, to 'lay him' on our wounded selves, and allow him to draw from our hearts and minds and bodies all that is not life-giving, all that is not of him.

The feast of Corpus Christi celebrates with joy the gift of healing and fresh hope given us in the Eucharist.

Touching Christ's Wounds

What an extraordinary scene! Thomas reaches out tentatively, fearfully and touches the Lord’s wounds – the wounds of his love for us that the Risen Jesus will bear forever. 

And touching the Lord’s wounds heals Thomas’ own wounds of doubt and unbelief.  He is enabled to say:  “My Lord and my God” – that is the strongest act of faith in who Jesus is found anywhere in the entire Scriptures.

But this dynamic – touching the Lord’s wounds so our wounds are healed – that is a reality that still abides. For us also touching the Lord’s wounds opens us to deeper faith and love.

But how do we reach out and make contact with His wounds?

We touch the wounds of Jesus when we touch the brokenness of his suffering Body. We are all the Body of Christ, united with him, sharing in the one Holy Spirit. You remember what Jesus said, speaking of those who need our love: “You did it to me.” And on the road to Damascus the Risen Lord asked Paul, who was persecuting Christians: “Why are you persecuting me?”  In this profound mystery of our unity,  in our oneness with the Risen Lord our wounds are the wounds of the Body of Christ.

When we touch with love and compassion the suffering members of Christ’s Body, we are touching the Lord’s wounds now. And when we open our hearts to give in loving compassion, in whatever way, we also are opening ourselves to receive – to receive from the Lord grace and light.

I have seen it happen so often – people who are seeking a deeper relationship with Christ are brought to stronger faith and intimacy with the Lord when they take their eyes off themselves and show love to their wounded brothers and sisters.

We can touch his wounds today, and that gesture of faith and love still brings healing and blessings.