September 22, 2026
“Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.”
—Luke 9:1-6
Encountering Healing
By Christine Brunkhorst
Maybe you’re a priest, doctor, or nurse, and you have the means to heal. But if you’re like me—a person with no special powers, this reading can be a challenge. Not only am I not given “power and authority over all demons,” I may even be the person who doesn’t welcome these disciples into my home (especially if it’s late and they’re carrying a clipboard).
And yet, how often has a kind word or a passing conversation healed me? In a world desperately in need of healing, we are the healers. In a time where children are shot at school, immigrants are rounded up, truth is up for grabs, and entire swaths of people are demonized, let’s not leave the healing only to the priests, the doctors, and the nurses. It is on all of us to listen, to soothe, to pray with our feet. Where have you encountered healing today? Where might you be the healer?
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