A Reflection on Healing

‘It is I, the Lord, who gives you healing’  
Exodus 15:26

God said these words to the Israelites, when they were thirsty and grumbling in the desert. He then led them to the living water at Elim and eventually to the Promised Land, flowing with milk and honey. God offered healing to the Israelites repeatedly, in the psalms and through the prophets. The Old Testament records eighteen individual and collective physical healings. In a wider and fuller sense, healing in the Old Testament meant repentance and reconciliation with God: ‘It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills’ (Psalm 102:3).

Jesus, too, brought healing, so that ‘all those who touched him were cured’ (Mark 6:58).    He sent out his disciples to cure the sick (Luke 10:9; Mark 16:18; Matthew 10:1,7) and many were cured. (Mark 6:12). This healing work continued in the early church. St Peter healed the bedridden Aeneas at Lydda (Acts 9:34) and St Paul refers to healing as a ministry.
(1 Corinthians 12:9).

But how can this promised healing be real for us today, for the aging, the disabled and those with terminal illness?  Human need of every kind cries out to God for healing. We cannot cure mortality. The healing miracles in the gospels, like those in the Old Testament, were often associated repentance and with faith. The Good News, ‘repent and believe’ 
(Mark 1:15) brought healing to the sick. (Luke 7:22) Jesus’ forgiveness healed the paralytic on a stretcher. (Luke 5:25). Faith saved the blind beggar. (Mark 10:52), The gospel healings were not just medical cures; they were ‘signs’ to inspire faith (John 2:12; 20:30), conversion, and a healing of the heart.  

This healing of the heart often takes place without any physical healing. St Paul discovered that his prayer for healing was not answered in the way he hoped. God said, ‘My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness.’ So Paul ‘delights’ in his weakness, ‘that the power of Christ may stay over me. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ 
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10). His healing was a strengthening in his relationship to God, transforming his attitude to his physical frailty.   

The penitent thief on the cross, unlike the other thief, did not ask to be saved from death. Rather, he asked Jesus, ‘remember me, when you come into your kingdom’ ( Luke 23:42). He was hoping for a salvation beyond death and Jesus answered him: ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:43). For the good thief, as for St Paul, suffering with Christ brought, not physical healing, but a healing of the heart. Death became the gateway to paradise.  .  

Jesus performed his last healing miracle in the garden of Gethsemane, healing the high priest’s servant. Here he faced his greatest crisis, the imminent prospect of pain and death. He was totally alone, abandoned by his disciples and the great crowds who had followed him. 

Jesus resolved this terrible crisis not by miracles but by surrender to God’s will. ‘He accepted death’ (Philippians 2:8). He prayed, ‘let your will be done, not mine’. ( Luke 22:66). His constant rebellion against sickness and death was over. ‘Although he was a son, he learnt to obey though suffering.’ (Hebrews 5:8). Surrender to God’s will was a continuing process, finding completion in his last words, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit’ (Hebrews 5:8). The physician did not heal himself. The saviour did not save himself. The one who raised the dead, died. 

So the promise of healing, meaning to make whole, contains a paradox. Physical and mental healing restores health and reduces suffering. But healing, in the deeper sense of reconciliation with God, comes through acceptance of suffering, because suffering leads to salvation and death leads to victory (1 Corinthians 15:5).

We are all pilgrims, like the Israelites in the desert. The promise of healing is real, because the journey is not in vain. ‘For we know that when the tent that we live in on earth is folded up, there is a house built by God for us, an everlasting home, not made by human hands, in the heavens.’(2 Corinthians 5: 1). Jesus made peace by the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:20). ‘He will give light to those who dwell in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death, and guide us into the way of peace.’ (Luke 1:79).

Geoff Bignell                                                                                                                    
March 2016

                                                                                                             

  

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LADIES NIGHT

Guildford Golf Club, by now becoming the Guildford Catenian's ancestral home, hosted the 'Spring'  Ladies Night on Wednesday March 2nd 2016. Spring may have been in the step of many brothers and ladies but it certainly wasn't in the outside weather conditions which were more akin to Arctic! Whatever, the Guildford Cats are a hardy bunch and the evening was entered into with the usual air of bonhomie. It was a full house and the dining room was bursting at the seams with revellers!

Sharing the evening with us was Fr Dunstan Keauffling from St Augustine's Abbey in Chilworth, the home of a Community of Benedictine Monks of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation. The brothers and ladies were appreciative of his sung Grace both before and after the meal. Bro. William D'Souza, VP elect, formally welcomed the Ladies and Maureen Bielac responded on their behalf.  

Bro. President Greg Melly announced that the evening was his last official function as Guildford President and he asked all present to remember Bro. Barry Dale in their prayers. As we all know, Bro. Barry has been seriously ill. However, the most recent reports circulated via Bro. Secretary Steve Rowden, informed us that Bro Barry came off the ventilator on Friday the 4th March and continues to recover from the sedation effects. It will be some time before he moves to St George's Hospital but this is encouraging news.

Absent Brothers?

I did it my way

Drinking coffee after dinner can be habit forming

Listen to me boyo, we're gonna win on Saturday!

10 points easy!

So we'll win the Championship then?.....Lovely!

Bro. Claude demonstrating his new colour coded alert system

Here's to the Ladies!

Of course you're wonderful, would we lie?

Someone's slipped a Mickey Finn into my tea!

That's my girl!

Oh no! this one's my shopping list!

Phew!

All that stress and hassle for a bunch of flowers from Sainsbury's

These special glasses magnify everything to twice its normal size!

A Penny for your thoughts!

Well done Eileen, it's the end of the evening and we're still standing!

Leap Year Oriental Banquet at the Rumwong

On Sunday 28th February, in excess of thirty Brothers and Ladies attended a Leap year Banquet at the Rumwong Chinese restaurant in Guildford. Apparently, a good time was had by all and the food was delicious. Below are some photographs to remind the diners of the occasion and for those who didn't attend what they missed. To date, there has been no reports of any proposals of marriage!

I shouldn't have ordered number 29. The waitress says I'll have to wait until tomorrow!

It tastes OK but it's not real man's food!

I see you're on the vodka again. Wrong rum!

Take your pick! Aren't we supposed to use chopsticks?

It's a lot better than the wine we get at the Circle dinners

I told the waitress that my chicken was rubbery! She replied; ''thank you very much''

Try and look as if you're enjoying yourself

Guildford Circle's Winter Walk

The Guildford Circle's Winter Walk on 22nd January started from Bro. Kevin Deeming’s home in Sandy Lane Rushmoor. Although the day was rather wet, nine intrepid walkers and two dogs set off for their chosen venue for lunch, the Duke of Cambridge pub. The route, initially along Sandy Lane joining the bridle paths around Gold Hill on Hankley Common to reach the Kettlebury Hill Ridge and Lion’s Mouth, covered a distance of just over three miles. On the way, the walkers passed the site where the closing scenes of the James Bond movie 'Skyfall' was filmed. Daniel Craig's presence was, sadly, not apparant. They then joined Greensand Way which took them across Hankley Common Golf Club fairways to the Duke of Cambridge where they were joined by three non-walkers for lunch.

The return walk a distance of almost three miles, took the walkers via the Tilford Common bridle paths towards Frensham Little Pond. Taking the pond's west side, they rejoined Sandy Lane near the Ford and made their way back to Kevin’s house where a well earned coffee and mince pie in front of a log fire was their reward.

The walkers pictured below were; Tony Clark, David Caush, Brian Jenkins, Susan Bignell, Patricia McHugh, Martin McHugh, Stephen Rowden, Geoff Bignell, our photographer Monica Rowden and, of course, the dogs, were joined for lunch by Kevin Deeming, Hazel Foulkes and Leo Cash.

It's that dog again!

Guildford Circle Meeting February 2016

The 681st Guildford Circle meeting was held on Wednesday 3rd February at the Guildford Golf Club. A strong turn out included three visiting gentlemen; Simon De Lusignan, Paul Page-Tickell and Robert Pettigrew. During the evening, both Simon and Paul were enrolled as Catenian brothers. In addition, the Circle was honoured by the presence of Fr. Lawrence, Abbott at Chilworth who addressed the circle after dinner.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of a substantial donation to the Nomntu Project made by Bro. President, Greg Melly, to Bro. Chris Devereau a founder of the charity along with his wife Jane. The Nomntu Project supports marginalised people especially women and girls in South East Africa and is one of Bro. President' nominated charities. Nomntu also supports local communities in becoming self sufficient and to help achieve this, Chris and Jane spend several months a year in Africa helping the local inhabitants.

After the meeting, thank God that's all over and done with!

Brother President and the new recruits; Paul Page-Tickell (left) and Simon de Lusignan (right)

Fr. Lawrence's captive audience

New Catenian brother Paul Page-Tickell addressing the brothers

New Catenian brother Simon de Lusignan addressing the brothers

Will we win on Sunday? No chance, we'll be lucky to get a draw!

Bro. Mark Wilson undergoing the metamorphisis from PPO to CMKO aided by a glass of free wine on top table!

Bro. Chris Devereau (left) being presented with funds collected by the President's charity.

Guildford Circle Meeting January 2016

The first Guildford Circle meeting of the New Year was held, as usual, at Guildford Golf Club. All those in attendance were delighted to see the return of Bro. Des Carroll who appeared to be in fine fettle following his months of illness and treatment. Indeed, once he started to entertain the brothers and visiting gentlemen with his own brand of Irish humour, it was as though he had never been away. In all, it was an eventful evening with the presentation to Bro. Mervyn Burby of his 25 year Scroll and the enrolment of Cian Duggan to the Circle.

That joke is just as funny as the last time you told it!

Thanks Prez but you could have had it framed!

This boy's got talent!

OK welcome but have you paid your subs?

'Himself''