The first Christian hospitals

And just as Jesus was within the Christians as they died, so he was within them as they lived.  During his earthly life “…he went about doing good…” and “…curing every disease and every sickness among the people” (NRSV, Acts 10:38; Matthew 4:23).  Then, soon after the persecutions were over, he continued this work through the first Christian hospitals.  The most remarkable of these was founded by St Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea, about the year 370 AD.  It was huge, more like a town, and someone living at the time (St Gregory Nazianzen) said that “it might deservedly be reckoned among the miracles of the world; so numerous were the poor and sick that came thither, and so admirable was the care and order with which they were served.” (3) But it was really one of Our Lord’s miracles.

The experience of today’s Christians

And today Jesus still lives and works in all baptised people who are true to him and allow him to do so.  In Palestine he was a carpenter, now he is active in many walks of life, just as he was in the early Church, in doctors, farmers, office workers, mothers and fathers, boys and girls.  That is what we mean when we say that in Baptism we became Members of Christ (4), and for that reason people ought to be able to recognise him in us.  It is for us to see that they do.