Word to the Wise
Friday, February 12, 2010 - Friday in the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19 and Mark 7:31-37][Jesus] ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Wonder workers were not unusual in Jesus' time. There are contemporary accounts of incidents similar to the ones in the New Testament that seem to follow a similar pattern. In Jesus' case, at least in the Gospel of Mark, he is anxious to keep the whole matter quiet! One explanation is that the real meaning of his life would not be revealed until his crucifixion, death and resurrection. His reason for coming is not to be a "wonder worker!" But the audience could not know that very easily. How can one keep quiet about someone who can make the deaf hear and the mute speak? Later on, readers of the gospel would recall that Isaiah said these kinds of things would accompany "the day of the Lord." Skeptics about the scripture tend to downplay the miracles or signs as well! They consider the accounts to be at best exaggerated and at worst completely untrue. It seems ironic that Jesus might have agreed with them about the importance of the miracles (for different reasons, of course!). For others, the miracles remain a "proof" of Jesus' identity as the son of God! I find it difficult to see how anyone can believe in Jesus but not in his signs, but I know some folks who prefer to concentrate on the ethical teachings of the Sermon on the Mount and avoid any discussion of "supernatural" actions on Jesus' part. This is a selective portrait and I think we are challenged to accept the "whole" Jesus and not just the one we want. AMEN
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