From pastor’s desk on 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year B
Why did Jesus cure only some people? Why did He not heal all those that were sick and miserable? Before we try to answer these questions, let us remember that whenever our Blessed Lord performed a miracle it was more like a sign to the people. It was the sign of God’s power at work in Jesus. God shows through Christ that God is present and accessible to human beings who are suffering the consequences of the original sin. However, the purpose of miraculous healings was to show the way to salvation and wholeness of each human person, not just for the enjoyment of life here and now on earth.
In this Sunday’s gospel we hear about the miraculous healing of a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment. This man’s handicap was not just about his inability to communicate well with other people. Rather, it should be viewed in the Jewish context of Jesus’s times. The deafness and lack of speech meant that the deaf-mute man could not worship God. First of all, he could not hear the word of God, which was always proclaimed aloud in the synagogue. – Let us remember that there were no books like we have today. – Secondly, he could not praise the Lord with his lips. Consequently, he could not be a full member of God’s people, for he was lacking very important features to participate in the Jewish community’s life.
When Jesus cured the man of his defect, it was God Himself who showed that God desires entire humanity to be renovated through His only begotten Son. So the healing of this deaf man was to help people to see that God can restore us to the wholeness and fullness of life. But that wholeness is possible only with Jesus and within the context of God’s people, that is, within the future Church.
So, our Lord cured some people and restored them to the wholeness of their personhood and humanity, which usually included ability to worship God (like the man in this Sunday’s gospel) and be part of God’s people, that is, part of the community of believers (initially the Jewish assembly and then the Church).
In our world, most of the time, people want to be healed so they can continue their former way of living while forgetting that their lives must be oriented towards God. Hence, perhaps, here is the answer to the initial questions: Christ does not cure all people of their illnesses and diseases because the suffering they endure makes them seek God with all their heart. Otherwise, if they were always well and prospering, they could forget that their destiny is life with God through Jesus and they would plunge themselves in the matters of this world.
In this context, let us see the fact that our Blessed Lord did not cure all that were sick. However, Jesus invited all His followers to follow Him: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mt 16:24). So it does not matter whether you are strong and healthy or weak and ill. The important thing is that you find Jesus who becomes your way to salvation. Thus, if you are experiencing some difficulty or suffer illness, ask the Lord for healing, but let Him choose what is best for you. He certainly will not disappoint you. He will tell you too, “Ephphatha! – Be opened!” To you are also addressed the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Be strong, fear not! Here is your God… He comes to save you” (Is 35:4).
I wish you all a blessed week. Fr. Janusz Mocarski, Pastor