The first
reading of today foretells glorious days of Messiah in Israel. The deeds that people
in Israel will be witnessing in Messiah’s time are enumerated with clear
precision. Jesus fulfils those prophecies in the Gospel. He heals the deaf man
who also has the problem of difficulty in speaking. The focus in today’s part
of Gospel is not strictly on Jesus’ healing ministry but on the place, people’s
reaction and Jesus’ action. Jesu’s action of healing makes people to recollect
the promise of Isaiah’s prophecy. They see the deeds of Jesus corresponding with
Messiah’s glorious days. They proclaim the deeds of Jesus to others with the
word of Isaiah. The identity of Messiah is revealed not by Jesus, but by the witnesses.
The healing
ministry of Jesus takes place in Decapolis, which means 10 cities. It is a
pagan area, just beside the Sea of Galilee. Jesus by performing a miracle in
pagan area is overruling the powers of pagan Gods. Jesus’ miraculous act
ridicules the incompetence of pagan Gods. On the other side, Jesus shows Israel
that Messiah is not only for Israel but for the whole world. Israelites are
very exclusive. They never mingle nor include others with them. They possess
the revelation of God as treasure and reserve it to themselves as though it is
given only to them and for them. Jesus opens the mind of Israelis to see others
as their brothers and sisters. Messiah in Israel is one and the same in the
pagan area. Thus, Messiah is for whole world. The pity of Jesus act is that
even after His glorious resurrection, the believers hold on to exclusivity. Some
believers show favours to their own people and reject others. St. James
witnesses this act of rejection in his community and admonishes them in his
letter (Jas 2:1-5). Jesus accommodates both Israel and gentiles. In the same
way, the believers in Christ should accommodate everyone without any
distinction. In the eyes of God, all are equal as well as each one is unique. Equality
is not the removal of uniqueness of the person. Equality is about treating
everyone with same attitude and respect that acknowledges each one’s uniqueness.
We are in a time where the evil of favouritism, rejection, discrimination and
exclusivity are on high. This is the sign of lack of love in the society. The limitations
that Israel set for themselves is from their own attitude. In God there is no limitation
for love and relationship. If Jesus goes beyond His region to establish
relationship, we too are called to go beyond our family, friends and relations.
Jesus’ tells “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For
even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to
you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same” (Lk 632-33). The
restriction of our love beyond our comfortable zones creates border, excludes
people and incurs rejection.
Jesus performs
healing miracle with some gestures like, spitting and touching. The coming of
Messiah is to redeem people from evil. In Israel, sickness and sin are the
evil. The prophecy of Isiah promises redemption of people from all evils. But,
Jesus’ mission on earth removes only sin, sickness continue to exist even after
Jesus’ glorious redemption on the Cross. Actually, sin is the evil. Sickness is
a part of life. Sickness can be treated, but sin cannot be repelled. Sickness can
be cured, but sin cannot be undone. And so, man is in need of total freedom
from sin. Jesus give that freedom. The acceptance of His message of Love gives
assurance that one’s sin is forgiven and can start a new life. In today’s world
sin is glorified and sickness is cursed. This is a contradiction to God’s
creation. Acceptance of sin and rejection of sickness will only lead to annihilation
of human life. As Christians we need to re-evangelize the world with God’s idea
of creation. Sickness must be touched and sin should be ditched. We may not be
gifted to do miracles like Jesus, but we can show our solidarity and action
toward the cure of sickness. Jesus’ miracles has the touch. We can touch the
sick person with our physicality, with our approach, with our consoling words
and with our prayers. These kind of touches can pull the sick person away from
rejection, loneliness and depression. Even here, we should not restrict
ourselves to some known people. Like Jesus, we have to go beyond our borders of
relations. Our visit to anonymous person at home, hospitals, care centres… can
bring healing of heart. It will touch the sick person to live with hope that
one day s/he will overcome the sickness. Let our love have no borders. Let our
love go beyond our boundaries to remove the evil of favouritism, exclusivity, discrimination
and rejection.
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