Message: The Compassion of Christ / Mark 1:29-39

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus Christ reveals himself by healing Simon’s mother-in-law. On the Sabbath, Jesus taught people and cast a demonic spirit out of a man at the synagogue in Capernaum, a town in the Galilee region. Afterward, Jesus visited the home of his disciples, Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was there, lying down with a fever. Jesus held her hand and helped her stand up. Then, she became well and hosted Jesus and his disciples. Many sick people in the neighbourhood heard about this and came to Jesus. He healed as many as he could.

In fact, Jesus’s most important mission was to spread the good news of the kingdom of God. He aimed to unmask the false peace of the Roman Empire and reveal that true peace comes from God's love and grace. What mattered most to Jesus was helping people turn to God and make a difference in the world for the kingdom of God. 

For his public ministry, Jesus had only a short time because Herod, who had arrested John the Baptist, also saw Jesus as a threat (Mark 6:16). Due to this, some warned Jesus, saying, "Get away from here; Herod wants to kill you" (Luke 13:31).

Even in the midst of this hurry, Jesus didn't overlook the sick whom he encountered. He felt compassion for those suffering from illness and couldn't ignore their pain. For Jesus Christ, holding the hand of the helpless and sick was as important as pursuing the lofty goals of transforming the world and achieving universal salvation.

During the time of Jesus, the healthcare system in the Roman Empire primarily focused on the well-being of the wealthy and powerful. Taxes were used to build public baths, water, and sewer systems for the hygiene of the high-class individuals in larger cities. Some wealthy people hired private physicians, and Roman citizens sought healing at so-called “healing temples” dedicated to the god of medicine, Asclepius. The only option for non-Romans to receive proper medical assistance was to become Roman soldiers who were killing and persecuting their people.

For this reason, it was a significant burden for non-Romans to have a sick family member. It wasn't just a matter of supporting them when they couldn't work. In the Roman Empire, there were two primary taxes: land taxes and poll taxes. The poll tax, also known as a head tax, was based on the number of people in a household. Therefore, even those who couldn't work due to illness had to pay taxes. This reinforced the belief that illness was God’s judgment for sin, and this hurt not only the bodies of the sick but also their minds and souls.

However, Jesus said that illness is never the result of sin. One day, a disciple asked Jesus about a man who was born blind, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. He was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him" (John 9:3).

For Jesus, the sick weren't sinners, worthless, or burdensome; they were also beloved by God, made in God’s image, and fully deserving of a healthy and happy life. Because of this, Jesus healed the sick to the best of his ability, even though he didn't have enough time for his public ministry. Jesus showed that for God, an individual's well-being was as important as universal salvation.

Following Jesus’ teachings and compassion, the disciples and the early church dedicated themselves not only to proclaiming the gospel but also to caring for the sick. This ministry was passed on to the monastic community. Benedict of Nursia (480-547), the founder of monasticism in the West, wrote the first sentence of Chapter 36 of his Rule of Monasticism: "Care of the sick must rank above and before all else." As a result, monks studied and translated ancient medical texts and made space in their monasteries to care for the sick.

Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), a significant medieval spiritual leader and abbess, did more than just review ancient medical texts. She wrote two excellent medical books, “Liber Simplicis Medicinae (known as Physica)” and “Liber Compositae Medicinae (known as Cause and Cure)”, based on her own observations and research. These books are still being translated and interpreted with great interest. 

Hildegard didn't see the body and soul as separate. She was known to be a very good composer and musician, which was part of her ministry to people's spiritual health. Also, she wrote about her experiences with God's presence in three significant books and penned numerous letters to religious and political leaders advocating for better policies. For Hildegard, it was crucial to pursue "holistic healing," where the body, soul, and social systems are healthy together.

A significant change in the healing ministry happened in 1130. During that year, the Council of Clermont, the highest decision-making body of the Church, prohibited all members of religious orders from practicing medicine. The council decided that medicine would only be taught in schools, and faith communities would focus solely on spiritual matters. It separated the healing ministry in the West: Schools and hospitals took charge of physical healing, while churches and monasteries were responsible for spiritual care. This tradition has continued to this day.

Medical advances are a gift from God, and it is the Christian mission to ensure they are shared equitably with all people. Today, some countries still have unequal healthcare systems that favour the rich and powerful, like the Roman Empire of long ago. On the other hand, it can be said that the Canadian healthcare system reflects the compassion of Jesus Christ. Of course, some areas need improvement, but its healthcare system allows all citizens to receive care fairly without guilt, providing us with a taste of God's kingdom on earth. Therefore, we Christians need to trust the healthcare practitioners and workers in this country and pray for them so that more people can have fair access to quality healthcare.

Above all, we need to remember that one important ministry we have as a community of faith is spiritual care. We need to bring comfort and peace to those who are sick and let them know that they are never alone. Hildegard says, "creatura per creaturam continentur," which is Latin for "every creature is connected with another." Healthy spirituality is formed in intimate relationships, which begin with a deep, solid relationship between God and you, you and others, and you and the creatures.

When I face a challenge, I often sing this song: "누군가 널 위하여, 누군가 기도하네. 내가 홀로 외로워서 가슴이 무너질 때, 누군가 널 위해 기도하네." Translated, it goes like this: "Someone is praying for you, someone is praying. When you feel lonely and your heart is breaking, someone is praying for you." 

Throughout this whole year, we are praying for every nation, every church in our regional council, and every individual in our congregation through the Prayer Cycle. One of my greatest hopes for this Prayer Cycle is that no one in our congregation is left with the conviction that they are alone. There is no shame in praying for someone and receiving prayer from someone. It is the beginning of spiritual health. Whenever you are alone and facing a difficult situation, someone is praying for you. Never forget that somewhere in this world, there is someone calling your name and wishing you God's peace and grace.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang

South Stormont Pastoral Charge

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany