The healing accounts go by so quickly. It’s easy for us to read them and simply acknowledge it was a nice and wonderful thing. We have built up an immunity, so to speak, as to the immensity of what is happening in these accounts.
Think of the woman, for example. If you have children, remember what it feels like when they are sick. Just sick. You feel helpless. You want to help them. You’d rather take on their illness than have them suffer. Now imagine your child is possessed with a demon! They have been taken over by something horrible and who knows what they are doing to themselves. That woman was desperate.
But she was also Gentile. But Jesus didn’t immediately rush to her aid. Why? Because Gentiles and Jews were not the best of friends. His words, “my own family” would suggest he was serving the Jews first. While it may have been a test, she did not retreat but only pushed further to plead her case. She had to. Her daughter was at home out of her mind.
We see here that Jesus is for everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike. We just need to have faith and come to him boldly with open hearts.
Let’s not just read these miracle stories for what they are on the surface but really see the beauty and significance. We also have a deaf man in today’s reading. The people had his back here because he probably couldn’t hear all the commotion of Jesus’ arrival or passing by.
I’m not sure why Jesus took him off to be alone. I would suppose that it was for the man’s own good. Imagine not ever hearing a single sound, and now imagine the roar of the people he’d hear in response to the miracle. Frightening? Indeed. How much better to have the first thing he hears be the soothing voice of Jesus?
Take a moment to reflect on these stories and how lives were changed. Jesus is still changing lives today. He is stirring in each of us believers, we just need to be still and listen.
Let’s pray. Father God you are so good. Every detail of your word speaks to us in different ways. The same passages can bring new meaning with each reading. Thank you that we are securely positioned in your kingdom. As I look around me, I see so many people that are living apart from you. How will you use me Lord to bring them back to you? I want to be your instrument to bring these people back. Prepare their hearts and then lead me. Show me. I thank you for the courage you are giving me to speak out and be your light in this world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
