Last week on Marian Finucane's radio programme, a former heroin addict was telling his story. He had been off drugs for just over 10 months and he went through the horrors of what it means to be a junkie. You couldn't but listen to him. For someone who has never taken drugs it brought home vividly the incredible damage and destruction they cause. He explained how difficult it was to rid yourself of the habit and gave a graphic description of the exact meaning of "cold turkey".
It was enough to make you jump into the air and say how extraordinarily lucky you were that you had not been sucked into the world of drugs.
Any time we are sick we long for our good health. When we are in top shape we take it for granted. That's the way things are. If you began to think about losing a leg or an arm you could easily drive yourself mad. Indeed, sometimes the fear of illness can have a terrible effect on a person.
Sick people are vulnerable. They depend on the help of others. People growing old can be very upset about losing their independence. It requires great strength to accept poor health and suffering.
In St Mark's Gospel 1:29-39, Jesus is busy curing the sick and those "possessed by devils". He also cures Simon's mother-in-law. The local people flock to him and he cures many of them. Mark tells us that once Simon's mother-in-law is healed she begins to wait on them.
There is something remarkable about being cured. We all know of people who have been restored to health. And when people are seriously ill they hope against hope for a cure.
Science is forever making new discoveries. Modern medicine has helped extend our life span and has also given undreamed-of comfort to people who are in pain.
To pray for a cure or to ask for God to intervene when we are ill can almost sound like superstition. But medicine and science are only discovering what is already there. They are making use of what is, after all, God's creation. It might well be unwise to expect God to make direct interventions. But it might also be unwise to leave God altogether out of the equation. Being ill, or caring for those who are unable to look after themselves, can make us very aware of how we depend on each other. It also brings home how close we all are to pain, suffering and tragedy.
The former drug addict on radio last week made it abundantly clear that he had to be helped to rid himself of the addiction. But he also pointed out that he made the initial decision to stop taking drugs. He is now pleading for more detoxification clinics to help those who are trying to kick the habit.
The Gospels are full of accounts of the healing power of Jesus. He heals people and they in turn can get on with the work of healing and bringing about the Kingdom of God on earth. Mark tells us how Simon's mother-in-law does exactly that.
It is only natural that the crowds were amazed with what Jesus was doing. He is the all-powerful healer, but we can play our role in the healing power of God. Believing that is a lifelong task.