THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS, THE HEALING MISSION OF THE CHURCH IN LAGOS: GIVE CARE AND LOVE TO THE SICK

Abstract

This article focuses on the healing mission of the Church in imitation of the healing ministry of Jesus, the compassionate, loving, and gentle Master who heals the sick and the infirm. This noble act of caring for the sick and the dying is all encompassing. The church must be ready to sacrifice her time, energy, and wealth in the service of the sick in the hospital, maternity centres, and orphanages and clinics belonging to the Religious Congregations and Institutes, Diocese/Parish or State, in cooperation with the Health workers according to the circumstance. The Church makes her services available to people of every condition, but especially the poor and afflicted. In Lagos Archdiocese, the archdiocesan bishop, priests, religious, exercise responsibilities that are rooted in their respective offices to promote collaboration among health care leaders, providers, medical professionals, chaplains and other specialists. The vocation of health care professionals to share in the carrying forth God’s lifegiving and healing work must not lose its focus. The sick and dying must remain the “core†of our call to imitate the healing ministry of Jesus. Conscious of the delicate nature of the work and that slightest mistake may have serious repercussion, health workers should be conscientious in their duties. They should moreover observe the highest professional standards and the norm of the Christian ethics. Therefore, health care workers strive to fulfil the mandate of Jesus: “Go out to the whole world proclaim the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those suffering from virulent skin-disease, drive out devils. (Matt.10:7-9).