In
the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
What makes one worthy to be healed by Christ? Is this child, brought
by his father before the disciples, who failed to heal him, truly
worthy to have his evil spirit removed? Are you worthy to come before
Christ our Lord and beg Him to remove the evil spirits which plague
you daily and much? Only those who are truly worthy and well-prepared
may approach God and hope to receive His blessings and favor.
However, we believe, teach, and
confess that “worthiness
does not depend upon great or small weakness or strength of faith,
but upon the merit of Christ, which the distressed father of little
faith enjoyed as well as Abraham, Paul, and others who have a joyful
and strong faith.” (FC SD VII 71 Triglot).
For, you see, the merits of Christ, His glorious omnipotence, and His
all-availing sacrifice on the cross are sufficient to make worthy by
faith to receive the mercy and the gifts of God.
The
thing is, the healing which Jesus brings to body and soul is only for
those who have put to death any hope of finding help elsewhere. And
this is precisely the problem.
