Sunday 6th September- 23rd Sunday of the year

THE HEALING POWER OF CHRIST

Mark 7:31-37

Do you expect the Lord to treat you well? Whatever Jesus did, he did well.  He demonstrated both the beauty and goodness of God in his actions. When Jesus healed a man who was both deaf and dumb, he showed his compassion for the man in his predicament. Jesus took him aside privately, no doubt to get him away from the embarrassment of a noisy crowd of gawkers. He put his fingers into his ears, touched his tongue with his own spittle to physically identify with this man’s infirmity and to awaken faith in him. With a word of command the poor man’s ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.

What is the significance of Jesus putting his fingers in the man’s ears?  Gregory the Great from the 6th century once wrote: “The Spirit is called the finger of God.  When the Lord put his fingers into the ears of the deaf mute, he was opening the soul of man to faith through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” The people’s response to this miracle testifies to Jesus’ great care for others: He has done all things well. No problem or burden is too much for Jesus’ careful consideration. We should therefore always open ourselves to God, for he his bigger than all our troubles and has the power to heal us of all forms of affirmity. All he requires of us is to come to him, just like the deaf-mute in the gospel of Mark (7:31-37). The Lord treats each of us with kindness and compassion and he calls us to treat one another similarly. The Holy Spirit who dwells within us enables us to love as Jesus loves. It is only love that can make a person have compassion on his neighbour and extend God’s healing power. Do you love others and treat them with considerateness as Jesus did?

PRAYER: Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit and inflame my heart with love and compassion.  Make me attentive to the needs of others that I may show them kindness and care. Make me an instrument of your mercy and peace that I may help others find healing and wholeness in you.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1505 – Moved by so much suffering Christ not only allows himself to be touched by the sick, but he makes their miseries his own: “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” But he did not heal all the sick. His healings were signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God… By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion.

HIDE A TREASURE: ‘One and the same Spirit gives faith to one person, while to another person he gives the power to heal’ 1Cor. 12:9 GNB

Today’s readings: Is 35:4-7: Ps 146:6-10; Jam 2:1-5; Mk 7:31-37