Jesus came "to call sinners," and be a Doctor to the sick and the sin-sick (Mk 2:17). He sympathizes with them in their weakness (Heb 4:15). He takes onto Himself their afflictions, infirmities, and sufferings (Mt 8:17), and gives them His health and freedom.

Jesus not only heals the physically suffering, but also restores the sick and sin-sick to full status in society. He heals them societally. For example, when Jesus publicly called attention to the woman healed by touching the tassel of His cloak (Mk 5:30ff), He was making it clear to the entire crowd that this woman, "unclean" after twelve years of hemorrhaging, was no longer to be socially isolated as ritually contagious (see Lv 15:25ff). Jesus did the same social restoration by commanding the ten healed lepers to show themselves to the priests (Lk 17:14). By showing themselves to the priests, who had the power to declare them officially clean for social purposes, Jesus gave these lepers official social restoration in a way that no member of Jewish society could question.

"We do not have a High Priest Who is unable to sympathize with our weakness" (Heb 4:15). Praise Jesus, Who heals body, psyche, soul, mind, spirit, and social status. Approach Doctor Jesus with great confidence (Heb 4:16). There is nothing He can't restore.

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 17, 2008

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