FORGIVENESS HEALS CANCER & SIN

Col 3:12-15 Health is Wealth and to preserve this wealth we, humans run after very many health, fitness and yoga centers. As these centers count leap, the number of sickness too arise. We hear and read about very many forms of diseases in human life, for e.g. in this instant world we hear about very many forms of cancer. The medical research says that most of the diseases today are due to psychosomatic problems i.e. illnesses are caused by ill-managed emotions, and hurt feelings of love, fear, anger, etc. Louise L. Hay, in the last chapter of her book You Can Heal Your Life gives an outline of her encounter with the dreaded terror, Cancer. Cancer, the very word evokes panic. The doctors held out to Louise only one hope, an operation. But she had spent some years studying and exploring the idea that all diseases had their origin in the mind and their cure could also be found in the mind. She believes that if an operation removed the cancer without the mental healing; it would only come back somewhere else, and keep coming back. But if the healing were done in the mind, the operation would not be needed. With this conviction imprinted in mind, Louise looked for an alternative way to tackle the enemy. She learned that just as junky foods accumulate and create toxic body, so also junky thoughts accumulate and create toxic conditions in the mind. With the help of a good psychotherapist she began tackling her memories of her past, the terrific childhood. Her parents had divorced when she was 18 months old, stepfather was a cruel man, a neighbor had raped her when she was five, and everyone told her that it was her fault and she was bad. One by one she took up her various memories of hurt and under an umbrella of understanding, sympathy and forgiveness, began to gather all those who had in any way caused her pain. Together with that she kept working on her self-image. Six months after the diagnosis of cancer the doctors confirmed her belief that every trace of the monster had disappeared. In the light of the reading, I personally look at, cancer as that of sin in the physical and spiritual realms respectively in every human. From the life of Louise, I would like to draw your kind attention to the similarities of nature between cancer and sin. Sin is like cancer, most of the time invisible but silently working to annihilate us. Both originate out of our won little-little negligence eventually growing into a fatal monster, against life. At inception, they call for attention and perpetual awareness but we dont heed to their urgency profusely and postpone. Both are in need of healing, the grace of God, and forgiveness. Since forgiveness is the eventual healer of both, I direct my focus on forgiveness. Forgiveness which is in itself a process consists of three stages; own it, bless it and use it. Own it means take responsibility for what has happened or realize that you have. Bless it means whishing that may it become a blessing in my growth, a positive outlook, and an optimistic attitude towards it. Use it means knowing your weakness or illness turn it into strength. St. Paul

used the same process of forgiveness in his life, when he says, a thorn was given me in my flesh, & for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (2Cor 12:7-12). So my dear friends, We as Gods chosen ones, holy and beloved, should clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven us. (Col 3:12-13). Finally, my humble prayer to you is, When you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone. (Mk 11:25). May God bless us and keep us hale and hearty. Deacon P. Jesuraj Delhi Diocese