|
health
/ well-being related
links
|
Abraham then interceded with God, and God restored health to
Abimelech, that is, to his wife and his maidservants, so that they could bear children; for God had tightly closed every womb in Abimelech's household on account of Abraham's wife Sarah.
[GEN 20:17-18] "In another dream I saw
seven ears of grain, fat and healthy, growing on a single stalk.
Behind them sprouted seven ears of grain, shriveled and thin and
blasted by the east wind; and the seven thin ears swallowed up the
seven healthy ears. I have spoken to the magicians, but none of
them can give me an explanation." Joseph said to Pharaoh:
"Both of Pharaoh's dreams have the same meaning. God has thus
foretold to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven healthy cows
are seven years, and the seven healthy ears are seven years - the
same in each dream. So also, the seven thin, ugly cows that came
up after them are seven years, as are the seven thin, wind-blasted
ears; they are seven years of famine. It is just as I told
Pharaoh: God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven
years of great abundance are now coming throughout the land of
Egypt; but these will be followed by seven years of famine, when
all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. When the
famine has ravaged the land, no trace of the abundance will be
found in the land because of the famine that follows it - so
utterly severe will that famine be. That Pharaoh had the same
dream twice means that the matter has been reaffirmed by God and
that God will soon bring it about." [Taken from GEN 41:22-32]
When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they
had brought inside, while they bowed down before him to the
ground. After inquiring how they were, he asked them, "And
how is your aged father, of whom you spoke? Is he still in good
health?" "Your servant our father is thriving and still
in good health," they said, as they bowed respectfully. When
Joseph's eye fell on his full brother Benjamin, he asked, "Is
this your youngest brother, of whom you told me?" Then he
said to him, "May God be gracious to you, my boy!" With
that, Joseph had to hurry out, for he was so overcome with
affection for his brother that he was on the verge of tears. He
went into a private room and wept there. [GEN 43:26-30]
"I am Joseph," he said to his brothers. "Is my
father still in good health?" But his brothers could give him
no answer, so dumbfounded were they at him. "Come closer to
me," he told his brothers. When they had done so, he said:
"I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But
now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for
having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives
that God sent me here ahead of you." [Taken from GEN 45:3-5]
Tobit exclaimed: "Welcome! God save you, brother! Do not
be provoked with me, brother, for wanting to learn the truth about
your family. So it turns out that you are a kinsman, and from a
noble and good line! I knew Hananiah and Nathaniah, the two sons
of Shemaiah the elder; with me they used to make the pilgrimage to
Jerusalem, where we would worship together. No, they did not stray
from the right path; your kinsmen are good men. You are certainly
of good lineage, and welcome!" Then he added: "For each
day you are away I will give you the normal wages, plus expenses
for you and for my son. If you go with my son, I will even add a
bonus to your wages!" Raphael replied: "I will go with
him; have no fear. In good health we shall leave you, and in good
health we shall return to you, for the way is safe." Tobit
said, "God bless you, brother." Then he called his son
and said to him: "My son, prepare whatever you need for the
journey, and set out with your kinsman. May God in heaven protect
you on the way and bring you back to me safe and sound; and may
his angel accompany you for safety, my son." Before setting
out on his journey, Tobiah kissed his father and mother. Tobit
said to him, "Have a safe journey." But his mother began
to weep. She said to Tobit: "Why have you decided to send my
child away? Is he not the staff to which we cling, ever there with
us in all that we do? I hope more money is not your chief concern!
Rather let it be a ransom for our son! What the Lord has given us
to live on is certainly enough for us." Tobit reassured her:
"Have no such thought. Our son will leave in good health and
come back to us in good health. Your own eyes will see the day
when he returns to you safe and sound. So, no such thought; do not
worry about them, my love. For a good angel will go with him, his
journey will be successful, and he will return unharmed."
[TOBIT
5:14-22]
When they entered Ecbatana, Tobiah said, "Brother Azariah,
lead me straight to our kinsman Raguel." So he brought him to
the house of Raguel, whom they found seated by his courtyard gate.
They greeted him first. He said to them, "Greetings to you
too, brothers! Good health to you, and welcome!" [Taken from
TOBIT 7:1]
He summoned Tobiah and made an oath in his presence, saying:
"For fourteen days you shall not stir from here, but shall
remain here eating and drinking with me; and you shall bring joy
to my daughter's sorrowing spirit. Take, to begin with, half of
whatever I own when you go back in good health to your father; the
other half will be yours when I and my wife die. Be of good cheer,
my son! I am your father, and Edna is your mother; and we belong
to you and to your beloved now and forever. So be happy,
son!" [TOBIT 8:20-21]
When the men of Greece had planned to come and destroy them,
the Romans discovered it, and sent against the Greeks a single
general who made war on them. Many were wounded and fell, and the
Romans took their wives and children captive. They plundered them,
took possession of their land, tore down their strongholds and
reduced them to slavery even to this day. All the other kingdoms
and islands that had ever opposed them they destroyed and
enslaved; with their friends, however, and those who relied on
them, they maintained friendship. They had conquered kings both
far and near, and all who heard of their fame were afraid of them.
In truth, those whom they desired to help to a kingdom became
kings, and those whom they wished to depose they deposed; and they
were greatly exalted. Yet with all this, none of them put on a
crown or wore purple as a display of grandeur. They had made for
themselves a senate house, and every day three hundred and twenty
men took counsel, deliberating on all that concerned the people
and their well-being. They entrusted their government to one man
every year, to rule over their entire country, and they all obeyed
that one, and there was no envy or jealousy among them. [1MACC 8:9-16]
But since God's punishment had justly come upon him, his
sufferings were not lessened, so he lost hope for himself and
wrote the following letter to the Jews in the form of a
supplication. It read thus: Death of Antiochus "To my
esteemed Jewish citizens, Antiochus, their king and general, sends
hearty greetings and best wishes for their health and happiness.
If you and your children are well and your affairs are going as
you wish, I thank God very much, for my hopes are in heaven. Now
that I am ill, I recall with affection the esteem and good will
you bear me. On returning from the regions of Persia, I fell
victim to a troublesome illness; so I thought it necessary to form
plans for the general welfare of all. Actually, I do not despair
about my health, since I have great hopes of recovering from my
illness. Nevertheless, I know that my father, whenever he went on
campaigns in the hinterland, would name his successor, so that, if
anything unexpected happened or any unwelcome news came, the
people throughout the realm would know to whom the government had
been entrusted, and so not be disturbed. I am also bearing in mind
that the neighboring rulers, especially those on the borders of
our kingdom, are on the watch for opportunities and waiting to see
what will happen. I have therefore appointed as king my son
Antiochus, whom I have often before entrusted and commended to
most of you, when I made hurried visits to the outlying provinces.
I have written to him the letter copied below. Therefore I beg and
entreat each of you to remember the general and individual
benefits you have received, and to continue to show good will
toward me and my son. I am confident that, following my policy, he
will treat you with mildness and kindness in his relations with
you." So this murderer and blasphemer, after extreme
sufferings, such as he had inflicted on others, died a miserable
death in the mountains of a foreign land. [2MACC 9:18-28]
But, as for me, I lost my balance; my feet all but slipped,
Because I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of
the wicked. For they suffer no pain; their bodies are healthy and
sleek. They are free of the burdens of life; they are not
afflicted like others. Thus pride adorns them as a necklace;
violence clothes them as a robe. Out of their stupidity comes sin;
evil thoughts flood their hearts. They scoff and spout their
malice; from on high they utter threats. They set their mouths
against the heavens, their tongues roam the earth. So my people
turn to them and drink deeply of their words. They say, "Does
God really know?" "Does the Most High have any
knowledge?" Such, then, are the wicked, always carefree,
increasing their wealth. Is it in vain that I have kept my heart
clean, washed my hands in innocence? For I am afflicted day after
day, chastised every morning. Had I thought, "I will speak as
they do," I would have betrayed your people. Though I tried
to understand all this, it was too difficult for me, Till I
entered the sanctuary of God and came to understand their end. You
set them, indeed, on a slippery road; you hurl them down to ruin.
How suddenly they are devastated; undone by disasters forever!
They are like a dream after waking, Lord, dismissed like shadows
when you arise. [PS 73:2-20]
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence
rely not; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make
straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD
and turn away from evil; This will mean health for your flesh and
vigor for your bones. [PROV 3:5-8]
My son, to my words be attentive, to my sayings incline your
ear; Let them not slip out of your sight, keep them within your
heart; For they are life to those who find them, to man's whole
being they are health. [PROV 4:20-22]
Pleasing words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and
healthful to the body. [PROV 16:24]
A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed
spirit dries up the bones. [PROV 17:22]
Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and
the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and
throne, And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did
I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of
her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted
mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, And I chose to
have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never
yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her
company, and countless riches at her hands; And I rejoiced in them
all, because Wisdom is their leader, though I had not known that
she is the mother of these. [WISDOM 7:7-12]
Wisdom's garland is fear of the LORD, with blossoms of peace
and perfect health. [SIRACH 1:16]
Better a poor man strong and robust, than a rich man with
wasted frame. More precious than gold is health and well-being,
contentment of spirit than coral. No treasure greater than a
healthy body; no happiness, than a joyful heart! [SIRACH 30:14-16]
The eyes of the LORD are upon those who love him; he is their
mighty shield and strong support, A shelter from the heat, a shade
from the noonday sun, a guard against stumbling, a help against
falling. He buoys up the spirits, brings a sparkle to the eyes,
gives health and life and blessing. [SIRACH 34:16-17]
My son, shed tears for one who is dead with wailing and bitter
lament; As is only proper, prepare the body, absent not yourself
from his burial: Weeping bitterly, mourning fully, pay your
tribute of sorrow, as he deserves, One or two days, to prevent
gossip; then compose yourself after your grief, For grief can
bring on an extremity and heartache destroy one's health. Turn not
your thoughts to him again; cease to recall him; think rather of
the end. Recall him not, for there is no hope of his return; it
will not help him, but will do you harm. Remember that his fate
will also be yours; for him it was yesterday, for you today. [SIRACH
38:16-22]
Those live whom the LORD protects; yours...the life of my
spirit. You have given me health and life; thus is my bitterness
transformed into peace. You have preserved my life from the pit of
destruction, When you cast behind your back all my sins. [ISA
38:16-17]
I form the light, and create the darkness, I make well-being
and create woe; I, the LORD, do all these things. [ISA 45:7]
For I will restore you to health; of your wounds I will heal
you, says the LORD. [Taken from JER 30:17]
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain had
put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
"Please test your servants for ten days. Give us vegetables
to eat and water to drink. Then see how we look in comparison with
the other young men who eat from the royal table, and treat your
servants according to what you see." He acceded to this
request, and tested them for ten days; after ten days they looked
healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from
the royal table. So the steward continued to take away the food
and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables. To these
four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency in all
literature and science, and to Daniel the understanding of all
visions and dreams. At the end of the time the king had specified
for their preparation, the chief chamberlain brought them before
Nebuchadnezzar. When the king had spoken with all of them, none
was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and so
they entered the king's service. In any question of wisdom or
prudence which the king put to them, he found them ten times
better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom. [DAN
1:11-20]
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi
sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow
me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed
him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a
large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples,
saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and
sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are
healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come
to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." [LK 5:27-32]
When he had finished all his words to the people, he entered
Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to
die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he
sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the
life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to
come, saying, "He deserves to have you do this for him, for
he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us." And
Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from
the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do
not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under
my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to
you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a
person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I
say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he
comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When
Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the
crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I
found such faith." When the messengers returned to the house,
they found the slave in good health. [LK 7:1-10]
As he clung to Peter and John, all the people hurried in
amazement toward them in the portico called "Solomon's
Portico." When Peter saw this, he addressed the people,
"You Israelites, why are you amazed at this, and why do you
look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power
or piety? The God of Abraham, (the God) of Isaac, and (the God) of
Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus
whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presence, when he had
decided to release him. You denied the Holy and Righteous One and
asked that a murderer be released to you. The author of life you
put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are
witnesses. And by faith in his name, this man, whom you see and
know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through
it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of
you." [Taken from ACTS 3:11-16]
Beloved, I hope you are prospering in every respect and are in
good health, just as your soul is prospering. [3JN 1:2]
Also try:
heal
/ healing [H4]
ill
/ illness [S16]
Anointing of the Sick / Extreme Unction (Sacrament) [S2]
dead
/ death [D1a]
sin
/ sins / sinned / sinful / sinner [S18a]
Other
resources:
Catholic
Life
Sacraments
Suffering
/ Death (Catholic Life Section)
Reflections: A-Z
| Categorized
Classic
Encyclicals & Other Papal Documents
(Also
try: Help, A-Z)
more
alphabetical scripture | more
categorized scripture | top |
