Acts 5:12,15 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hand of the apostles…they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mates, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

During the heat of summer, I often take our dog for a walk, around noon. The shadows of the trees along the road provides cooling shade.  When it is colder I avoid the shadows, and seek the warmth of the sunshine.

How was it that Peter’s shadow could heal people as he passed by? After all, Peter’s shadow was simply caused by the light of the sun.  However, there was another light shining on Peter.  It was the light of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  God, through the Holy Spirit was imbuing not only his word of Jesus’ resurrection with power but his person.  His very presence reached out to those in need.

What sort of shadow do we cast?  When our shadow precedes us into a room, does it cast a pall over the room or does it signify that comfort and joy will follow in our person?  When we leave a room, our shadow follows behind us, what do we leave behind as we depart?

We all cast a very human shadow in the form of our body.  But in Christ, we also cast a shadow of healing.  We likely are unable to heal physically, but we but we do bring with us caring for those whose spirits may be afflicted.  That sense of caring stays behind like a shadow of our presence.  Caring goes a long way toward physical healing.

(I must give credit to Fr. Chris Wojcik of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Clayton, Wis. for planting the seedling of “Healing Shadows.”)