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Hi James,
Good to hear from you. My healing was more of a deliverance as much a healing. I was immediately delivered from ten years of cocaine addiction almost 30 years ago. Interestingly enough, it was also after long period of (perhaps up to 20 years of) really not believing in God. The addiction left me! Over the next year, I would be at the wrong place and there would be cocaine passed around . . . or available . . . so as a reflex action, I would do a line. I'd get high, but never felt the cravings as, or after, the high was over or as I was coming down.
The Holy Spirit, told me — well this proves you're no longer an addict but you need to stay out these situations, lest you fall back into the addiction.
You received a temporary healing, but now it's up to you to continue to deepen your faith. Christianity and therefore Catholicism is more than religion. Religion are the external rituals, based on beliefs by which we worship together. But in reality, Christianity is a Relationship. We are Sons of God, Brothers of Christ, and as a Church, we are the Bride of Christ. Notice that these all describe Relationships.
I just spent a half hour talking to a friend about Jesus. She has been away from any faith for years. She says she would feel like a hypocrite, were she to embrace God now. She said that she is not worthy. Well, the fact is none us are worthy, but Christ makes us worthy, by Grace, by giving us Himself, in the Sacraments and also through a living, daily, active Relationship. So she said, you talk like He's a person. I said, He is! . . . among other things, He's my friend and I'm not talking about religion or dogma to you now, (not that those aren't important), but I have a friend and I love Him. I'm trying to introduce you to Him. Because without knowing Him, dogma and rituals mean nothing. The purpose of dogma and rituals is to serve the Relationship.
This Relationship with Jesus, naturally leads to a Relationship to His Church, which is His Body and that means the institution and the rest of the members of His Body. That said, I would encourage you to pray. By that I mean, talk to Him. He's a Person. Yes, you can say prayers. Use rote formulas too but make sure you are praying those prayers.
- Think about what you are saying.
- Expressing yourself to Him.
- Tell Him what you're feeling.
- Share your dreams, hopes, and aspirations.
- And if you feel guilty for sins, then confess them to Him.
Of course you want to get to the Sacrament of Reconciliation but in the mean time confess your sins to Him. Ask Him to take control and show you what needs to change and don't condemn yourself. He will forgive any sin.
Here is a truth most people never quite get. We can accept that Jesus loves us but we never quite get that He likes us! That He has nothing better to do with His time and has no greater desire than to spend time with us. He always enjoys our company. He wants to reside in us through the Holy Spirit.
Continue to pray for healing, but also continue any medical treatment as well.
The Holy Spirit is the Gentleman, He won't force us to do anything but He will guide us and give us the ability to be all that God created us to be.
God Bless and stay in touch,
Warmly,
John
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