Were these people who were healed or raised from the dead anybody special? Not necessarily. We don't know anything about Aeneas except that he had been bedridden for eight years. Tabitha though was well-loved for doing good and helping the poor. Perhaps she was a seamstress since the story mentions the clothing she had made (Acts 9:36-39). But the people healed by the disciples, and by Jesus, were ordinary people. They were not the leading citizens of the day, the politicians or the preachers. They didn't do anything to "earn" being healed or raised from the dead. It was just that someone loved them enough to bring them to Peter's attention. In Aeneas's case they asked for healing. In Tabitha's case they didn't even do that. They were already mourning her death and Peter had to send them out of the room so that he could pray, seek the Lord's guidance and act on it. We know from the Gospel accounts, Peter was not a perfect person. Presumably Aeneas and Tabitha were not perfect either. Healing does not seem to depend upon our perfection, but on God's. For reflection: Have I not asked for healing for myself because I didn't think I deserved it? Have I not prayed with someone else for their healing because I didn't think I was good enough? Let us pray. Father, I thank you that Jesus prayed for me before I ever heard of him. I thank you that Jesus died for me when I could never deserve such a sacrifice. I thank you that in your great goodness and your perfection you remember me every day whether I remember you or not. I thank you that others have prayed for me too. Now I offer myself to pray for others as you lead me to do so.
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AliceI started this website and blog on May 1, 2012. I am a Catholic who has been in ministry for many years. I first developed what I would call a close relationship with Jesus in the early 1970s. Ever since then I have been praying with people for healing and other needs. It is because I have seen so many of these prayers answered that I am so bold as to offer to pray for you individually through this website and phone line. Archives
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