In
Korean society we frequently come across references to the word
'healing,' perhaps a sign that our society is undergoing a pathological
change, with many of us becoming worn out and lonely and finding it more
difficult to keep the body and mind healthy. The editorial in the Peace
Weekly
points out that for some people the keys for the transformation to
healthful living may be as simple as adding new projects, including
plans to travel to new destinations.
The
Buddhists have encouraged this transformation to health by holding
'stays' in their temples, where people can come for a few days to get
away from the concerns
that bind them to the world, preventing them from enjoying peace of
mind. The
World Health Organization, in 1996, issued their definition of health.
Using a holistic approach, they provided criteria for determining not
only what makes for physical and mental heath but spiritual health as
well.
Healing, all healing--physical, mental, spiritual--is, as
the editorial puts it, in God's domain. Because, ultimately, God is the
only healer. In
the Old Testament, becoming a new person--recovery to spiritual
health--often begins with the healing of physical disease. In the New
Testament, healing is clearly shown to extend beyond the healing of the
body to the
spiritual--and salvation.
This healing of the spirit is also
available whenever we receive the sacraments of the Church; they help
bring the love of God into our lives. The grace of God should be
one of the means to rid ourselves of disease in both body and mind, as
well as in the spirit. Because of these benefits, the
editorial believes the Church should be more interested in promoting
this
apostolate, which should help satisfy, according to the editorial, our
need for the sacred.
God, from the beginning, poured into humanity his grace, and if our
lives are sufficiently open to the continual graces that are being offered, nothing
but good can come from this openness, and health would be one of the
gifts received. We need only to empty ourselves, forgive others, and do what the voice of conscience dictates.
