Inner Healing

Summary of a teaching by Margaret Treacy, rshm (1981)

The entire new testament shows us Jesus trying to share his power with his followers. When Jesus looked at the crowds and had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Mt. 9:36-38), he prayed that the Lord of the harvest would send other labourers to reap the harvest. When the twelve were no longer enough to go out to the cities and villages he chose 72 others and shared with them the very same powers. Later at Pentecost the entire Christian community was empowered to do the works that Jesus did. So we can see how clear the progression is: He needs us to continue his work today.

What exactly is inner healing? It is being able to accept the fact that I am deeply loved by the Lord. To know, to experience powerfully that I am special to him. This may sound easy but so few people truly believe it. So many are deeply wounded and are filled with fears and guilt of all kinds. Inner healing is to believe in the transforming power of Jesus; to believe that he can make the crooked ways of my life straight, and the rough ways smooth. It is believing that he can walk back with us into our past and heal the painful memories that may be lurking there. The ideal way that this is done is with a friend. Simply sharing these painful wounds and then praying for healing. Often it is good that a person be prayed with a team: a man and a woman. Also much inner healing can take place in a general prayer for healing or in a Mass for inner healing.

The important thing is to keep in mind that JESUS is the healer and he uses us as his instruments. It is our love and concern for the other person which allows the healing to take place. Scripture tells us of the power of the healing glance of Jesus in calling the apostles. Take the call of Levi, of Peter, John and even of Mary Magdalene – we see the healing was effected in their lives by his presence. He called people forth by his love; He did not condemn. Rather he enabled them to be converted and to change their lives completely.

Saint Paul, too, met the Lord in a healing way on the road to Damascus. And he never forgot him. His letters to the early Christians show us how deeply Christ was enthroned in his heart.

The biggest obstacle to inner healing is the lack of forgiveness. When Jesus cured the paralytic he first forgave his sins, then cured him. If there is any lack of forgiveness in our hearts we may forget about inner healing as well as physical healing. Jesus himself gives us the supreme example of forgiveness as he dies on the cross for us. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." He doesn’t make excuses for those who have done wrong, he forgives them! Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling. This is important to remember. We must really work at forgiving others. There is no freedom without it.

It is also possible to pray for inner healing for ourselves. Reading scripture prayerfully can be healing and liberating. At the same time it is good to read books on inner healing such as those by Agnes Sanford, the Linn Brothers (especially good is Healing Life’s Hurts), Michal Scanlan and others.

I praise and thank God that this healing ministry is being restored to the Church today. In many parishes there are healing masses once a month. Here in Lumen Christi we are making efforts to do the same. So let us praise and thank God that we are being lifted out of the power of darkness and being transformed into the glorious healing light of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.