Cathedral in Print

Seeking healing from the balm of the Bible

3/08/2021

Luke 4:24-30 Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

One of the surprising benefits of reading the Bible is that it heals us. And sometimes it heals us even though we do not think we are sick; it heals hidden wounds. Fr. Jerome Kodell of Subiaco wrote: “God’s word…always has divine healing and saving power…From time to time the transforming power of the word of God is recognized as one’s life becomes more peaceful, joyful and whole” (The Catholic Bible Study Handbook, 9-10).

And if you are looking for an excellent example of someone whose Bible reading has made him “peaceful, joyful and whole” look no further than Fr. Jerome Kodell himself. He is explaining something he has experienced. In other words, there are “hidden holes” in our hearts and the words of scripture can be poured into them like a healing balm.

Do you remember the African American spiritual song, “There is a Balm in Gilead”? It is not referring to a hydrogen bomb but a healing balm. The title is taken from Jeremiah 8:22, which reads: “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wounds of [God’s] people?” And the people's of God's deepest and most deadly wound is a lack of faith. Sadly, most of us do not know how feeble our faith is, and how much we need healing for it. A lack of faith is precisely why we do not feel “peaceful, joyful and whole.”

In the gospel today, Jesus says a prophet is not without honor except in his native place, namely Nazareth (for Jesus). That is, the people do not have faith in Jesus as the Messiah. And how does Jesus try to heal that lack of faith? He invites the people to a little Bible study class. If the people would read and meditate on the episodes of Elijah in 1 Kings 17 and Elisha in 2 Kings 5 (our first reading today), their faith would be healed and they might welcome Jesus as the Messiah. In other words, the people’s lack of faith is a hidden hole in their heart, and Jesus tried to apply the Balm of Gilead (Bible reading) to heal it. But the people rejected the divine physician, just like we do not like to go to the doctor.

My friends, are you suffering from a lack of peace, joy and wholeness in your life? If we are honest, we would all admit that we are. Well, I would submit to you that there is a hidden hole in our hearts called a lack of faith, a deep and deadly wound, and those are its symptoms. But the good news is “There is a balm in Gilead / To make the wounded whole; / There is power enough in heaven, / To cure a sin-sick soul.” And the best way to tap that power and healing is regular reading of Sacred Scripture.

I am always happy to hear about groups in our parish starting a new Bible study. I am helping a Hispanic women’s group with a Spanish Bible study focusing on the sacraments in Scripture. The youth group in Springdale is doing the study called “Unlocking the Mysteries of the Bible” with Jeff Cavins. I am offering an on-line Bible study on the book of Acts, called “Axe of the Apostles.”

Several people have said they are reading the Bible in a year with Fr. Mike Schmitz. I think people watch him because he has really great hair; he’s the “fella over there with the hella good hair.” And of course, Bishop Robert Barron has produced a stunningly elegant Bible through his production company “Word on Fire.” It is called “A Cathedral in Print,” – a great name for the Bible – and it goes to great lengths to make the Bible beautiful.

Folks, the point is we have a healing balm in our hands called the Holy Bible. It can heal the deepest wound in the human soul, that hole in the heart called a lack of faith, a wound that most of us don’t even know we have. And when we dedicated time and energy and effort to study of Sacred Scripture, we will begin to feel more peaceful, joyful and whole, like Fr. Jerome Kodell.

Praised be Jesus Christ!