8. LET IT BE DONE…

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Friday, February 26th

And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And the servant was healed in that hour.
Matthew 8:13 (NRSV)

Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! 
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed instantly.
Matthew 15:28 (NRSV)

In these two Let passages, we see how Jesus incredibly brings healing to different people in different ways. In Matthew 8, the centurion’s servant is healed of paralysis. In Matthew 15, the Canaanite woman’s daughter is freed from a demon, even after Jesus initially seems critical of the woman’s request. There are other verses that describe the many ways Jesus healed people, but these two verses include his words, let it be done… “Let it be done for you according to your faith… (and) as you wish.” This is our spiritual invitation for today.

If we were to ask Jesus to heal us today, how might we ask to “let it be done” according to our faith? How would Jesus’s words transform our prayer?

Jesus always wants to heal and help. Jesus heals us in ways we may not even know we need. The answer to our prayer may not be the one we think we need; sometimes our healing comes with an unexpected result. In his pastoral care, Jim has witnessed healing when people find a place of acceptance and peace with their suffering, or when they find relief from pain and anguish with the sweetness of eternity. When we ask according to our faith, we are entrusting Jesus with our outcome. We open ourselves to let him heal us in the ways he sees best, for in faith we have learned and experienced his incredible goodness. This brings us peace.

How might we ask for healing, to “let it be done” as we wish?

Jesus’s words help us to clarify and perhaps narrow what it is we are asking. Do we truly wish for physical healing even if that means difficult rounds of chemo, or hours of painful physical therapy? Do we sincerely wish for emotional healing even if that means speaking words of forgiveness to an enemy, or journaling a terrible experience, or facing our inner fears? When we ask Jesus to heal us as we wish, we are invited to first examine the true intention of our prayer. This brings us focus and clarity.

What would you ask of Jesus if he were to let it be done according to your faith – trusting Jesus for the outcome?

What would you ask if he were to let it be done as you wish – trusting Jesus for the process?

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May we let the perfect, tender love of Christ Jesus freely work to heal us – according to our faith and as we truly wish – leaving our outcomes and processes in his holy and healing hands.

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The Bible reading for Monday is Galatians 5:22-26.

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

Bible verses found at BibleGateway.com