An article for the Cathedral Times
by the Rev. Juan Sandoval, Deacon for Hispanic Ministries and Pastoral Care
Jesus is the ultimate healer and was holistic in his teaching of relationships. The Great Commandment fulfills all relationships. Love your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. We don’t need to separate the spiritual from the physical, it is all one body. Jesus provided the ultimate in care, both spiritual and physical. Jesus met the people where they were and cared and cured them.
The human body is an amazing creation of God. So many intricate organs work together to insure growth, good health and a sound mind. I was and still am amazed at the beautiful and often complicated artistry of our Lord in creating the human body.
I was drawn to a career in nursing. I loved being at the bedside in hospitals and seeing individuals recover, improving day by day and then leaving for home to continue their life or preparing them for transition into the next. I loved helping those in need of physical healing. God gave me the gift of healing and I was able to share this gift with others. I loved using this gift God gave me in critical care units, emergency rooms, surgical units, and even as a nursing director. Each area allowed me to assist others in healing physically. More importantly, prayer was an integral component of healing. Each day and everyday prayers are felt by the recipients of our intercession with and through God.
I often think of how Jesus healed others. Withered hand, 12 years of bleeding, the lame, the blind and even the dead. These were miracles and even today miracles continue. Working in the health care field allowed me to see miracles firsthand. Battle wounds, severe burns, and near-death experiences. These are miracles aided by our prayers and love.
Caring for those who are sick, suffering, or recovering requires time, patience, compassion, love, and knowledge. Often the most important aspect is that of human touch and presence. Holding a patient’s hand, talking and listening to them. This is when we, as human beings, are the most vulnerable. As nurses, we find ourselves in a sacred space and a time of intimacy. While medications, surgery, and therapy assist in healing, human touch and time are so very important in healing physically, mentally, and spiritually.
After forty-five years of nursing, I was guided by Our Lord to continue my work of healing. This healing was not of the physical or mental type, but that of healing the soul. While this healing is more spiritual, it is also a time of great vulnerability and intimacy. As clergy, we are often invited into the faithful’s sacred space. We offer presence, time, compassion, love and spiritual healing. These sacred spaces include time of illness, time of loss, time of loneliness, and time of transition from their earthly journey to their eternal journey. While each has a particular prayerful component, each has a common component of prayer, presence, grace, and blessing. The power of each is miraculous in its own right.
As I consider healing the physical aspect of self and healing the spiritual aspect of self, I believe that God is deeply immersed in all aspects of healing. If we are to follow Jesus’ example, we are to care for, love, pray for, and bless those who care for God’s people physically and spiritually. I often remember that I am an instrument of God. God is the cure giver, and I am one of the care givers.
I believe God has placed us here on Earth to do his will. To love and serve the Lord and all people. I helped in healing the body for many years and now I am honored to help to heal the soul. I thank God for the opportunity to serve others in God’s glorious and precious name.