Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Randolf Flores, SVD – Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City
Tuesday 4th Week in Ordinary Time
I was once invited to celebrate a mass with deaf and mute children. I was told that I can have a crash course on the sign language before presiding in this mass. I could not imagine how I would manage to preach without words but only gestures.
In the Gospel, Jesus encounters a person who is possessed by a demon. This story belongs to the section of Jesus’ Healings and Miracles (Matthew 8-9) which can be the “praxis”, the action counterpart of his long Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7). Most sicknesses in that culture are believed to be caused by evil spirits. People thought that there are more spirits than human beings, and more spirits that are not always benevolent. Today we have better and more scientific reasons why a person is deaf and mute.
In any case, his healing draws two opposite reactions: “the crowd were amazed” (v. 33) and the Pharisees said: “By the prince of demons he casts out demons” (v. 34). They do not deny Jesus’ power to heal, however they attribute this power from Satan.
It shows that anyone can heal; anybody can be an exorcist; even the demon can be a healer. However, where this power is coming from and what kind of motivation the healer has, seem to be criteria for an authentic healing. For Jesus, the source of this ministry is God (Matthew 9:8) and the motivation is compassion (“moved with pity,” Matthew 9:36).
Meditation: When was the last time I was “moved with pity” to help an unfamiliar person?
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