10: The Spiritual Reality of Bodily Infirmities

The Podvig with Joel Dunn

To what extent does one pursue physical healing? To what lengths should one go? When should one stop such a pursuit and simply rely on God’s providence? How do we obtain the phronema or the mind of the Church with respect to our own bodily suffering? The lives of the saints suggest that there is no singular answer to these questions other than to strive to keep the greatest commandments to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love others as ourselves. St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain explains that God “created last of all man with an invisible soul and a visible body. He, therefore, has created a cosmos, a world unto himself, but not a microcosmos within the greater one.” Thus, the connection between body and soul, sin and sickness, is clear: physical suffering signals to us that not only is the body distressed in some way, but also the soul as well. The physical manifestation of illness is precisely how the soul communicates its ills to the body, thus awakening us to self-knowledge and ultimately to the necessity of turning back to God. “How long we live, what disease or illness accompanies our death—such things are not the proper concern of Orthodox Christians. Although we sing "many years" for one another at Namesdays and other celebrations, this is only because the Church in her wisdom knows that we indeed need "many years" to repent of our sins and be converted, not because a long life has any value in itself. God is not interested in how old we are when we come before His Judgment, but whether we have repented; He is not concerned about whether we died of a heart attack or cancer, but whether our soul is in a state of health.” - Fr. Alexy Young Our maladies are not merely physical. Indeed, they are not even primarily physical, since, according to St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain, our "true self, that which is principally man, is not the visible body but the invisible soul, the 'inner man.’” “God’s works are never finished, and from HIm health is upon the face of the earth. My son, do not be negligent when you are sick, But pray to the Lord and He will heal you. Depart from transgression and direct your hands aright, And cleanse your heart from every sin. Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice And a memorial of the finest wheat flour; And pour oil on your offering, as if you are soon to die. And keep in touch with your physician, For the Lord created him; And do not let him leave you, For you need him. There is a time when success is also in their hands, For they will pray to the Lord To give them success in bringing relief and healing, for the sake of preserving your life. He who sins before the One who made him, May he fall into the hands of a physician. (Wisdom of Sirach 38:9-15, OSB)