Turn your radio on.
That’s the title of an old song written 80 years ago.
That’s the title of an old song written 80 years ago.
Back
when a lot of people were just getting their first radio.
But
it’s been a popular hit record many times over the years.
For
people like Roy Acuff, Skeeter Davis, Ray Stevens,
The
Statler Brothers, BJ Thomas, Randy Travis and others.
Mostly
country singers.
The
refrain says:
Turn
your radio on, turn your radio on.
Get
in touch with God, turn your radio on.
Today’s
Gospel brought that old song to mind.
Sunday
we heard how the people were amazed at Jesus’ teaching.
Because
he spoke with authority.
And
they were further amazed when he healed a man possessed by a demon.
His
healing power made it clear that he was indeed entitled to speak with
authority.
Today,
we hear other examples of Jesus’ healing.
And
he healed just as he spoke – with authority.
He
didn’t have to call on God, or recite special words.
For
both the woman with the hemorrhage, and for Jairus’s dead daughter,
As
with everyone else he healed,
All
he had to do was will that they be healed.
In
the case of the woman,
He
merely willed that his healing power be available and have effect.
Like
a radio system with transmitter and receiver.
He
was transmitting out those healing waves.
And
all she had to do was receive them.
She
did.
And
she quite literally put herself in touch with God.
And
she was healed.
By
his power, and through her faith.
Without
a word being spoken.
No
one but God has that healing authority and power.
Many
of the saints are recognized for their role in healings.
But
what they did, they did in Jesus’ name – not their own.
We
can still ask those saints for help.
Through
the communion of saints.
As
saints, they’re already with God in heaven.
The
Church Triumphant.
So
they have better access, a better channel to him.
And
they’re willing to intercede for us.
Carry
our request to God.
St.
Blaise, whose memorial we celebrate today, was recognized for his
role in healings.
Especially
for healing a child who was choking on a fish bone.
And
by tradition, today we ask St Blaise for his help.
Our
ministers pray:
Through
the intercession of St Blaise, bishop and martyr,
May
God deliver you from every disease of the throat,
And
every other illness.
In
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Help
from the saints is a great thing.
But
we needn’t put all our reliance on intercessors.
Jesus
Himself is still transmitting today.
With
enough mega-watts of power to break through the static of our
everyday lives.
He
may not be offering a cure for all our worldly problems.
But
we can be sure that, ultimately, he wills what is best for us.
And
that he wills our spiritual healing.
If
we turn on our receivers and listen,
We’ll
be in a position to gain a deeper understanding and acceptance of his
will.
Because—we’ll
have put ourselves in touch with God.
Turn
your radio on.
4th Tuesday Ordinary Time
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