Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Friday of the First Week of Advent | USCCB
In our gospel for today from Matthew we hear of one of
the many healings that Jesus performs. The two blind men, in all humility,
approach Jesus and say, “Son of David, have pity on us!” They weren’t demanding
to be healed, but rather approached Jesus to help them in their suffering. They
probably didn’t expect anything to really be done, but with all they have heard
about Jesus, they had the faith that he would be able to do something for them.
Jesus goes on to ask them if they believe he could do
this for them. Their response was, “Yes, Lord.” Then, touching their eyes, and
with the words, “Let it be done for you according to your faith” they were
healed. They did indeed have faith for this to happen to them.
The sense of touch is important, so Jesus touched
their eyes and healed them. Jesus, being God, could have simply given the
command to be healed, and it would have happened. But Jesus felt it important
enough to touch them in order to give them the healing they requested.
Central in this passage is two things: the faith of
the two blind men, and the fact that Jesus touched them to grant them healing.
We can turn to Jesus in the same way each time we approach the altar to receive
Holy Communion. There are many concerns on our minds that we may need help with
from the Lord Jesus. When we approach Jesus during Holy Communion with these
concerns, Jesus is asking us, like he asked the blind men, “Do you believe I
can do this?” Our response should always be, “Yes, Lord!” Then, when we receive
our Lord in Holy Communion, he will be touching us with His healing power in
the same way he touched the blind men 2,000 years ago. We just need to have
faith that Jesus will respond to our prayers in a way that is most beneficial
to us and for those we are praying for.
Let us always bring our cares and concerns to Jesus
and place them into His loving hands. He will always respond with love, care
and concern for us and for all who we pray for.
Son of David, have pity on us! Amen
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder that Our LORD JESUS can give us healing through reception of the Eucharist, the Sacrament of His Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity.
Before we receive Holy Communion at Mass the priest holds up the Sacred Host & we respond "LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY THAT YOU SHOULD COME UNDER MY ROOF [taken from the words of the Centurion in the Gospel whose servant was ill], SAY BUT THE WORD & MY SOUL SHALL BE HEALED."
For a few decades following Vatican II, before the "reform of the reform" when a transliteration that was closer to the Latin replaced the language that was closer to common usage, we used to respond "LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY TO RECEIVE YOU; ONLY SAY THE WORD & I SHALL BE HEALED".
My personal preference is for the words we used to respond, because it implied that not only can JESUS, in & through the Eucharist, give us SPIRITUAL HEALING, but He can give us whatever kind of healing we need, whether spiritual, emotional, physical, financial, healing of relationships, etc.
Even though the most important healing we need is the healing of our souls, Our LORD is willing to provide other forms of healing that we need, and, as you pointed out, we can bring all our concerns to the LORD when we receive Him in faith in the Eucharist.
This gospel reminds me of the many times that Jesus has healed me physically, but also emotionally. It invites me to trust HIS word and his ways. Hopefully, HE continues HIS work on me to make me SEE others with a humble and compassionate heart especially, those who I find difficult to like. He is allowing to SEE again, to see HIS immense love for me and my kids!
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