The incarnation & health care as ministry

There is a long tradition of faith-based healthcare. On this Christmas episode — filled with music, poetry, and conversation — we ask: How has the belief that God became human in the flesh inspire care for people and their bodies? The Rev. Denise Hess of the Supportive Care Coalition (now part of the Catholic Health Association) joins host Seán Collins in a reflection on the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation and the ways it has inspired centuries of healthcare. They talk about the example of Jesus-as-healer, the crucial role women have served in promoting healthcare ministries, and the place suffering plays in our understanding of caring for the whole person. They are accompanied throughout the hour by three musicians who perform original arrangements of traditional carols: Gabe Miller, violin and arranger; Elijah Cole, guitar; and Nathan Pence, bass.