John 14:14

[Dorothy]

Ok, I think I get it. What about certain maladies that can’t be cured like Downs Syndrome, or an arm that wasn’t fully formed at birth? Prayer doesn’t cure those things…

It doesn’t cure those things, but prayer provides the courage and love necessary to accept the situation.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

It doesn’t cure those things, but prayer provides the courage and love necessary to accept the situation.

Does prayer cure other things? If so, is there a reason why there is a division between what can and can’t be done by prayer when John 14:14 has no such qualifiers?

 

[gus]

The 14th chapter of John is not a sermon to a crowd
It’s an intimate meeting with his disciples to prepare them for his up coming death and mission. The promise was made to them alone and since these men preached the gospel to the known world in their lifetime and succeeded in changing the world ,the promiss was kept.

 

[Faith1960]

It doesn’t cure those things, but prayer provides the courage and love necessary to accept the situation.

Why doesn’t prayer cure those things while it cures other illnesses?

 

[Dorothy]

Does prayer cure other things? If so, is there a reason why there is a division between what can and can’t be done by prayer when John 14:14 has no such qualifiers?

I see too many good things the Lord has done for us during this temporary life. I can’t bring myself to question things that seem unusual to me. I am finite, He is infinite. Everything He does or allows can be used for the good.

 

[Jesus_123]

+**

“For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven,
it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”**
- Saint Therese of Lisieux
+Perhaps the below might be of some help to those seeking wisdom and understanding about the . . . profund depths . . . of the . . . refreshing . . . grace filled . . . life-giving . . . well of blessings . . . prayerful communion with our . . . Wonderful Heavenly Father . . . opens up for the prayerful soul for blessing upon all aspects of life here on earth . . . as taught by . . . Jesus our Lord . . .

:bible1:
The
Our
Father

Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be** Thy **Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
- Jesus

• Matthew 6:9-13

"The **Lord’s Prayer ** “is truly the summary of the whole gospel.” “Since the Lord … after handing over the practice of prayer, said elsewhere, ’Ask and you will receive,' and since everyone has petitions which are peculiar to his circumstances, the regular and appropriate prayer (the **Lord’s Prayer **) is said FIRST, as the FOUNDATION of further desires.” - Tertullian, De Orat​

Link: ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/pater2.htm

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank **You Sweet Spirit **of our Holy God+
. . . thank you Holy Mother Church+​

 

[Della]

Does prayer cure other things? If so, is there a reason why there is a division between what can and can’t be done by prayer when John 14:14 has no such qualifiers?

See my first couple of posts in response to Faith’s first question.

Faith1960:

Ok, I think I get it. What about certain maladies that can’t be cured like Downs Syndrome, or an arm that wasn’t fully formed at birth? Prayer doesn’t cure those things…

These are imperfections not illnesses–they do not kill the person. Most cures are of deadly illnesses, such as those attested to at Lourdes. All of us have imperfections, but most of these imperfections aren’t as recognizable as others. I’ll take myself as an example. I’m quite petite–under 5’ tall. In the world we live in I can have some difficulties dealing with things like driving (most cars are not designed for small persons), getting things down off grocery shelves, opening commercial doors (some are quite heavy for me). Should I beg God to make me taller? Especially since being taller would make my weight less of a problem, as well? Hardly. I may have imperfections, but I am perfectly loved. As are my nephews with MD, even though they are very limited in mobility and even in movement. It is how we treat people who have such limitations that is important in our fallen world, not the limitations themselves that matter. Such limitations remind us that we are to love one another as we are, not as we’d like to think of ourselves. When we are resurrected we’ll have perfect bodies–I may still be petite, but I’ll be perfected in love and that’s all that matters.

 

[Faith1960]

See my first couple of posts in response to Faith’s first question.

These are imperfections not illnesses–they do not kill the person. Most cures are of deadly illnesses, such as those attested to at Lourdes. All of us have imperfections, but most of these imperfections aren’t as recognizable as others. I’ll take myself as an example. I’m quite petite–under 5’ tall. In the world we live in I can have some difficulties dealing with things like driving (most cars are not designed for small persons), getting things down off grocery shelves, opening commercial doors (some are quite heavy for me). Should I beg God to make me taller? Especially since being taller would make my weight less of a problem, as well? Hardly. I may have imperfections, but I am perfectly loved. As are my nephews with MD, even though they are very limited in mobility and even in movement. It is how we treat people who have such limitations that is important in our fallen world, not the limitations themselves that matter. Such limitations remind us that we are to love one another as we are, not as we’d like to think of ourselves. When we are resurrected we’ll have perfect bodies–I may still be petite, but I’ll be perfected in love and that’s all that matters.

So why are there certain imperfections that can’t be cured when illnesses can?

And why are there some illnesses like MD that can’t be cured while others can?

 

[Della]

So why are there certain imperfections that can’t be cured when illnesses can?

So, I should ask God to make me taller? What would that accomplish except to make me more acceptable to certain persons who can’t abide “flawed” human beings? We all have flaws, some physical, many others are the limitations we put on ourselves because we think we need to be perfect in an imperfect world. However, of course God can make me taller is he wished to–but I’m sure he believes it’s better for me, and for others, that I remain as I am.

And why are there some illnesses like MD that can’t be cured while others can?

I never said that God can’t correct MD–MD is not a disease, but a genetic condition. I’ve not come across such a case, although I suppose there have been some. It’s not that God can’t do this or that, but rather that such corrections to our limitations aren’t necessary for us to live fulfilled lives. My nephews both work and one even has a wife. Their lives are good and beneficial why is there a need for them to be any different than they are?

 

[Dorothy]

So, I should ask God to make me taller? What would that accomplish except to make me more acceptable to certain persons who can’t abide “flawed” human beings? We all have flaws, some physical, many others are the limitations we put on ourselves because we think we need to be perfect in an imperfect world. However, of course God can make me taller is he wished to–but I’m sure he believes it’s better for me, and for others, that I remain as I am.

I never said that God can’t correct MD–MD is not a disease, but a genetic condition. I’ve not come across such a case, although I suppose there have been some. It’s not that God can’t do this or that, but rather that such corrections to our limitations aren’t necessary for us to live fulfilled lives. My nephews both work and one even has a wife. Their lives are good and beneficial why is there a need for them to be any different than they are?

In fact their lives are inspiring to others when it is seen that they cooperated with the grace of the Lord to surmount their problems and do not feel sorry for themselves.

 

[MT1926]

So, I should ask God to make me taller?

If it works please message me. I sure could go for a full head of hair. :extrahappy:

 

[Della]

In fact their lives are inspiring to others when it is seen that they cooperated with the grace of the Lord to surmount their problems and do not feel sorry for themselves.

Yes. Just recently Pope Francis talked about physical perfectionists looking down on the disabled. No one is perfect in body no matter how good they may appear to others. And all of us are going to die. Our modern conceit is that we can hang onto youth and beauty without accepting that with age come limitations. It’s simply not true. Suffering is often good for us because it forces us to rely on God instead of on our finite abilities and limitations. Indeed, it is only God’s grace that makes any of our lives what they ought to be, not physical perfection.

 

[Faith1960]

So, I should ask God to make me taller? What would that accomplish except to make me more acceptable to certain persons who can’t abide “flawed” human beings? We all have flaws, some physical, many others are the limitations we put on ourselves because we think we need to be perfect in an imperfect world. However, of course God can make me taller is he wished to–but I’m sure he believes it’s better for me, and for others, that I remain as I am.

I never said that God can’t correct MD–MD is not a disease, but a genetic condition. I’ve not come across such a case, although I suppose there have been some. It’s not that God can’t do this or that, but rather that such corrections to our limitations aren’t necessary for us to live fulfilled lives. My nephews both work and one even has a wife. Their lives are good and beneficial why is there a need for them to be any different than they are?

I know a girl who was born without a hand. I imagine her mother prayed for her hand to grow, but it didn’t. I just don’t get why some illnesses/maladies get cured while some can’t.

 

[Della]

If it works please message me. I sure could go for a full head of hair. :extrahappy:

I hear ya. Although it puts me in mind of the proverb: “Be careful what you ask for–you may just get it.”

 

[Della]

I know a girl who was born without a hand. I imagine her mother prayed for her hand to grow, but it didn’t. I just don’t get why some illnesses/maladies get cured while some can’t.

It’s not “can’t”, rather it’s “doesn’t allow for good reasons.” Concentrating on a missing a hand is to miss out on all her other potentialities. She isn’t limited by a missing hand but by the attitude that somehow she’s not as good a human being without it.

 

[Faith1960]

It’s not “can’t”, rather it’s “doesn’t allow for good reasons.” Concentrating on a missing a hand is to miss out on all her other potentialities. She isn’t limited by a missing hand but by the attitude that somehow she’s not as good a human being without it.

So then, again, why do some illnesses/ maladies get cured when some seemingly never do?

Or the old question, why doesn’t God cure amputees? He cures cancer and other illnesses but while being an amputee isn’t an illness, He still doesn’t cure them.

 

[Dorothy]

So then, again, why do some illnesses/ maladies get cured when some seemingly never do?

The point is to trust the Lord with all our hearts when we face things we do not understand. He gives us the grace we need, when we trust Him.

 

[Della]

So then, again, why do some illnesses/ maladies get cured when some seemingly never do?

Or the old question, why doesn’t God cure amputees? He cures cancer and other illnesses but while being an amputee isn’t an illness, He still doesn’t cure them.

Because he knows what is best for us. Being physically cured isn’t always best. You seem to saying that God owes us cures because he can do it. That’s not the case. God owes us nothing. It is we who owe him everything because everything we have and are we owe to him. If we are born with physical limitations, it is part of being born into fallen humanity. Such limitations remind us of this and ought to prompt us to cling to God who alone is perfect and able to save our souls, which is what matters most.

 

[Faith1960]

Because he knows what is best for us. Being physically cured isn’t always best. You seem to saying that God owes us cures because he can do it. That’s not the case. God owes us nothing. It is we who owe him everything because everything we have and are we owe to him. If we are born with physical limitations, it is part of being born into fallen humanity. Such limitations remind us of this and ought to prompt us to cling to God who alone is perfect and able to save our souls, which is what matters most.

So are you saying that because Adam and Eve sinned and our humanity is fallen, that’s why there are some illnesses/maladies that aren’t cured?
Just trying to understand.

 

[Della]

So are you saying that because Adam and Eve sinned and our humanity is fallen, that’s why there are some illnesses/maladies that aren’t cured?
Just trying to understand.

No, that’s not what I’m saying. Some illnesses/conditions aren’t cured because God has other plans for those afflicted. We are born with such things because we are fallen creatures.