His love heals all wounds
This is
just one of the glorious stories of how His love heals all wounds!
Before I
begin, we must recall that Jesus heals not only the body; but he also heals
those who are sick in spirit. Jesus desires to heal tired and restless
hearts, or to use St. Augustine’s image, hearts of stone, or at least of
uncleanliness. Jesus searches for those hearts distant from God, and
desires to bring them rest and healing. And praise His Holy name because
by approaching the Divine Physician those hearts of stones can be healed and
given new life. Plainly put, Jesus came to heal all, those who are
physically sick and those who are spiritually sick. And this is a clear case of
both, I must say.
You see,
not too many years ago I met Geiber, a very angry man who came to find Irma his
wife one night here at Santa Maria Magdalena’s Home. Geiber was clearly mad,
and his wife and children looked scared as he approached. Geiber wanted to know
why his wife and his children were spending so much time at the Home. He wanted
to know if I was trying to separate them, or if Irma was speaking about their
relationship troubles with me, and what lies she has been telling me.
On this
particular night he approached me as the rest of the community was leaving
after adoration, it was around 9:30 at night. I invited Geiber into the house
with his family so that we could talk. I explained to him that his wife
and children have been coming to the home to visit and to spend time with
Jesus. I explained and assured him she was on her way home and that we had just
finished up with adoration along with the rest of the community in the chapel.
I took
this as an opportunity to invite him to come next Thursday. He remarked with a
sinister laugh; He told me that it was best that he did not come because the
community does not accept him due to his past. I told him that it did not
matter what the community accepts because Jesus accepts everyone and that this
house and its chapel is for everyone, and that Jesus' love was for everyone.
Not
shortly after Geiber and his family left, a few members of the community came
back to the home to check on me to make sure I was ok, as they were concerned
for me and Gabriel. They wanted to tell me it was not safe to be alone with
Geiber and warned me that I should not allow him inside and that he has done
many bad things to people in the community. The concerned members of our
small town told me he was a very angry drunk and a thief. They did not
hesitate to tell me of a past incident when he pulled a knife on our local
Catechist. I assured them that we were ok and told them that I wasn’t going to
let my fears get in the way, that I came here to serve Jesus, and his beloved
people even if that meant giving my life to do so.
So, you
can only imagine the look of surprise on my face and the communities when
Geiber showed up to adoration the next weekend. Maybe he was just there to keep
control over his family, maybe he was there to make plans to harm me and
Gabriel. But one thing is for sure is that Jesus had other plans for Geiber and
his family.
It
did not take long for Geiber and his family to become regulars at every prayer
night, adoration and activities here at the Home. In fact, their attendance
became predictable, and they even attended our Valentine’s Day couples retreat
for the past two years and held a rosary at their home. It was clear that
we were building a friendship based on the now and not on the past. Just like
Jesus does!
When
things were looking up for this couple, tragedy hit. Don Geiber, as some of you
may remember, was diagnosed with cancer, and he needed help to travel to Lima
for treatment. And after a long battle and many trips back and forth for
treatment he has been told that there are no more signs of cancer. But
that’s not all the Lord has healed.
Over the
last few years, the relationship between Geiber and Irma has healed, there has
been reconciliation, forgiveness and a newfound love for each other and for
Jesus. It has been such a remarkable honor to witness. Jesus has healed their
past wounds not only between them as a couple, but also the wounds that were
inflicted by their blindness and hardened hearts upon their children as well as
the community.
Today as they received their sacrament of marriage an outward sign of just how much Jesus has healed their hearts and made them one in His image. And in a real way the little community of Santa Clara has witnessed a healing miracle as well. One can only pray that this miracle of healing will become a true inspiration for all those who have witnessed it. One can only pray that from such a transformation of healing that this beautiful family has experienced that many more will have courage themselves seek Jesus’s healing power. After all, he came to heal and transform our hearts! For "those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17, RSV
May together we learn to love like Jesus!
