He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.

 

The Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021420.cfm

In today’s gospel we hear of Jesus healing the deaf man with a speech impediment. This is one of the times when Jesus felt it necessary to touch the person in need of healing. Jesus, being God, could have simply said to the afflicted person, “Be healed” and the person would have been immediately healed. Jesus has that power, as God, to cure and heal with just a command.

Yet today, Jesus felt it necessary to not only touch this man to heal him, but also to bring him away from the crowd. This deaf man had a chance to spend what I would call quality time with Jesus. Jesus was able to be close and intimate with this man and cured him and brought him back to his family and friends cured of his affliction.

Then, to the astonishment and amazement of all those around Jesus, once the man was brought back whole and healed, Jesus told them not to tell anyone. But the amazement was so great, they couldn’t contain themselves and started to proclaim it to all who would listen.

We have the same opportunity as that deaf man to be alone with Jesus daily whether at home or here at Church. I’m sure the man spoke words to Jesus about all his cares and frustrations about being deaf and the problems he had in communicating with those around him. He placed all his cares on Jesus and hope and prayed for healing.

Each time we enter into prayer before Jesus, whether it’s here at church or at home, we need to feel free to share all our cares with Him, whether it’s for a specific healing, or just to bring peace into our lives and those who we care for. Jesus will respond in the way that is best for each of our requests. We may not need as dramatic a healing as this deaf man needed, but we do need to have Jesus at the center of our lives in order to have that peace and contentment that can only come from a deeper encounter with Jesus.

Then we can, like the people in today’s gospel, proclaim to those in our lives all that Jesus has done for us in bringing us peace and contentment.