When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Mk 1:32-34

Jesus has just healed the mother-in-law of Peter and now crowds of people come to be healed of all sorts of physical, psychological, and spiritual sicknesses. He is the doctor of body and spirit. The origin of the word heal is the same as the origin of the word hale (as in “hale and hardy”), and the root of those two words is the same as the root of the word whole. To be healed is to become whole.

The Gospels show us that Jesus took time to heal, even when it was inconvenient for him. Jesus taught us to be compassionate, so he showed compassion himself, even if it involved an interruption to his rest.

Jesus was and is a healer. Pray that, like him, you will not walk away from the opportunity to provide a teachable moment for others that helps them become whole.