Wanting to be Healed

Gospel
06 September 2009
23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mk. 7:31-37

by: Lester Yee

In today’s gospel, the people begged Jesus to heal the deaf man who had a speech impediment. After being healed, the man rejoiced and testified to the miracle he experienced.

This synopsis challenges us to reflect on two questions: Do we really want to be healed completely? Do we really want to be transformed by the love of God to realize our true human potential, that is to be like Christ? Are we ready to be torn away from our own self-centeredness to offer ourselves freely as God’s instruments? Are we ready to surrender all that we are to our God? God demands no less than our complete transformation. As a great Christian writer (George MacDonald) points out, every father is pleased at the baby’s first attempt to walk; no father would be satisfied with anything less than a firm, free, manly walk in a grown-up son. In the same way, C.S. Lewis says that God is easy to please, but hard to satisfy.

Imagine: We human beings are little cottages with leaking roofs, broken windows and clogged toilets. The moment we ask God to enter our hearts, God starts fixing the roof, unclogging the toilets and repairing the damage. Pretty soon however, we feel the pressure as our walls are torn down, and our facades rebuilt. We realize that God is building us into His palace, where God will reside.

Thus, to be Christians, God needs to heal us from our deafness to the plight of others. To be God’s palace, God needs to fill us up with caritas, the love that overflows from our hearts and actions towards everyone, especially to the poor whom we are called to have a preferential option for. We are called to be saints, nothing less.

Thus, we come to the second question. Are we ready to be witnesses to God’s love? Are we ready to share our experiences of healing to the Christian community?

If you are, please share your reflection. Email the editor at lesteryee@gmail.com.