I’ve seen my share of miracles. But something even greater is coming.

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Gospel:

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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During my six years of priestly ministry, I’ve experienced first-hand the power given by Christ to the Apostles in today’s Gospel. 

I’ve witnessed an evil spirit exit a man after going to confession; I’ve seen a young boy’s eyesight restored after nearly going blind; I’ve seen tumors turn benign; brain damage erased; and cancer disappear.

There is no question in my mind whether or not Christ still heals people today. Without question, he does. But why Jesus heals a person is as mysterious as why he doesn’t.

***

I often remind people, when Christ heals us, we cannot lose sight of the bigger picture: God restores our physical bodies to offer us a glimpse of what’s to come.

If God can restore us physically, then allow yourself to imagine what he will do to us spiritually in the resurrection of the dead.

That’s the moment we have to stay focused on: the moment when the universe itself is restored to its original goodness – and we along with it.

This is the same message the Apostles had to share with those whom they healed. Greater things than this are coming.

***

In the words of Bruce Springsteen: “Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.”

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Image credits: (1) Watch Miracles, Amazon.com (2) Groundwork Bible Study (3) FinTech Futures