Saturday after Ash Wednesday

While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Jesus is our Heavenly Physician and the message of the gospels is our prescription. Through the words and works depicted in the scriptures, we are given an example of how to live our lives so that we are spiritually healthy. Jesus shows us how to give up our unhealthy attachments and harmful habits and follow him upon the narrow path to Heaven. He also gives us a model of how we are supposed to treat others, especially those whom we find disagreeable. Instead of excluding or ignoring them, we are called to minister to them and help them to lead healthier lives both physically and spiritually.

Do we follow the prescriptions of the gospel? Have we made a concerted effort to excise our unhealthy attachments and harmful habits? Do we treat others with the respect that Jesus would if they were before him?

O Lord, you are our physician, heal us of our afflictions.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot

Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

We are all sick with our own issues and sins. We all have an illness here or there in our souls. We all need the Heavenly Physician to heal us and make us whole. We might think we are righteous, good, and healthy, but only Jesus and his Holy Mother Mary can claim to be perfect or full of grace. We might have much grace in our lives, but there are wounds within us only God’s mercy and our contrition can cure.

What are the things which make us spiritually sick in this world? Do we consider ourselves righteous or above others? In what way can we imitate Christ and be physicians for others?

O Lord, we are sick heal us.

Amen.