Dear Friends in Christ,
Today, the liturgy asks us to contemplate the healing of a “deaf man who had a speech impediment.” (Mk 7:32) As in other cases (the Bethsaida and Jerusalem blind men, etc.), the Lord surrounds the miracle with a series of outward motions. “He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue.” (Mk 7:33) In such miracles, the Fathers of the Church see a dramatic demonstration of the humanity of Christ.
This demonstration developed in a double way: one, the “abasement” and the closeness to us of the Word incarnated (the touch of his fingers, the depth of his gaze, his sweet and intimate voice); on the other hand, the attempt to awaken in the man the confidence, the faith and the conversion of his heart.
Jesus’ healings mean much more than merely relieving the pain or recovering the health of an individual. He desires that those He loves overcome their blindness, their deafness or their lack of openness to the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, our Lord desires a true communion of faith and love.
At the same time, we can see the grateful reaction of the recipients of this divine gift of healing. They insist on proclaiming God's mercy: “the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.” (Mk 7:36) They bear witness of the divine gift; they experience his mercy and are full of a deep and genuine gratitude. They cannot help but praise God for His work in their lives.
For all of us it is also of crucial importance to know and feel that we are loved by God. We must know, without a doubt that we are the object of his infinite mercy. This is the driving force of generosity and love God is requesting from us. We make this discovery of God’s generosity and love in many ways. Sometimes, it will be the intense and sudden experience of the miracle and, quite often too, the gradual discovery that all our life is nothing but a miracle of love. In any case, it is necessary we first realize our own great need with true humility and openness to our Lord.
What signs do we perform to show that the Kingdom of God is here? Do we realize that we are God’s sacrament for our brothers and sisters? May we repeat Jesus’ same actions by praying for and caring for the poor and the marginalized. Our corporal works of mercy are signs of the Kingdom of God.
All the best…in Christ,
Father Wilson
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