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Jesus commands, "Preach the Kingdom and heal the sick." Perhaps we have witnessed that 50 percent of what the Lord has directed is not being carried out. 

The Kingdom is proclaimed, but the second half of Jesus' teaching, sadly, often makes people squirm in their pews.  

Perhaps that fear is planted in some behavior and loud shouting in TV evangelism or perhaps it is our inherent fear of God that we are not worthy of His healing love. 

The good news is that He sent his only Son that we might have life and life abundant.

Ironically, in teaching the healing ministry at seminaries, there are two major blocks, diametrically opposed, that I address in my first encounter with the class. One is a fear that, if the new cleric prays for healing, nothing will happen and the other that, if the new cleric prays, something will happen to put that cleric in the spotlight.

Jesus did tell those he prayed with not to tell anyone. The lepers told everyone. He did tell them, "Show yourself to the priests." Is the issue one of fear? 

Someone once said that, "People are dying because no one is praying for them." I believe that something always happens when we pray. God has been working on me for many years.  

I am a former Royal Marine Commando drill instructor. I spent a year in combat.  I narrowly missed death nine times: five times blown up, three times shot at and once I lost consciousness as I breathed water in a scuba diving accident and nearly drowned. 

I often say that if I were a cat, I would be very nervous now. Having had such close calls with death I realized that God had a plan for me. 

After my sister, a ballet dancer with the Royal Ballet, became so sick with dystonia she was not expected to live, an Australian priest by the name of Canon Jim Glennon prayed for her (after three years of illness) and she was cured. That got my attention.

A year after Julie's healing, things started to happen at my business and more people were coming for healing than business. God got my attention.  It was time to step up to the plate.  

I have been astonished at God's grace in the past nineteen years of ministry to the sick. I am humbled by what happens when we pray and by the outcome of having the holy boldness and love for our neighbor when we are obedient to Jesus in quietly and confidently stretching forth our hands as suggested by Paul in Acts 4:30.  

We must not limit the Lord. Jesus said in Matthew 7:7 to "ask."  There is no limit or restriction to that asking. I put it to you to "ask" the Lord Jesus for your healing and those for whom you pray.

I am astonished at God and his marvelous works.  Last December, I presented the healing ministry to 18 army chaplains at the Pentagon. They are interested in a program we are doing called the "Welcome Home Initiative," a healing retreat for combat veterans. 

I pray that the healing love of Jesus will fill your heart and heal your disease.  As Jesus reminds us how he loves us and wants us to be healed.
Be well, do good works and let's love one another.

(Rev. Nigel Mumford is director of The Oratory of Christ the Healer at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in Green-wich and author of "Hand to Hand from Combat to Healing" and "The Forgotten Touch." This column, written by people of various faiths, appears periodically courtesy of the diocesan Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. An ecumenical Service of Healing is held each Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich and is open to the public.)[[In-content Ad]]

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