Homily: Sixth Wednesday of Ordinary Time
Sixth Wednesday of Ordinary Time (Mk. 8:22-26) “How a Divine Physician Heals.”
Jesus was a faith healer. Faith healers are around today, but they aren’t usually the first people we go to when we have a health issue in the modern world. A faith healer is usually the last resort for those who are sick.
In the time that Jesus lived, faith healers were often the only resort. Jesus used some of the popular tools for healing. One of those was spittle. We hear about that several times in the healing miracles of Jesus. We might think this strange. But what do we do when we burn or cut our finger? Usually, the first thing we do is place our finger in our mouth. For some reason it takes the sting away. Jesus makes a mud paste out of spittle and dirt and then smears it in the blind man’s eyes and healing occurs. Jesus must have learned this from other people who were acquainted with the healing arts.
It is also interesting that Jesus has the insight to take the man away from the crowd to minister to him. The man, we are told, was blind from birth. People who have been cured of life-long blindness often describe how overwhelming it is to see for the first time. The colors, the faces of numerous people can be too much.
Jesus seems to sense this, so the cure does not happen all at once. No, it happens a little at a time. This is the only miracle of Jesus where this is the case. Could it be a symbol of how true faith comes about? A strong belief in God does not usually happen suddenly, but it unfolds gradually.
Jesus was sensitive to the needs of the man he was healing. It seemed like he tried to imagine what the man would go through when healing came. A lot of doctors treat the physical but have trouble with the mental and spiritual healing that must happen.
He sends that man home so he will not be an object of curiosity. For Jesus the cure was all about the patient. It was not about Jesus gaining notoriety. Jesus was a servant of others in every instance.
Reflection Questions:
- When I am spiritually hurting does that take a toll on my physical health? What does that tell me about taking care of my spiritual life?
- Do I like to have empathy from health care professionals? If they are overwhelmed how might that affect them?
Dear Parishioners,
We are trying to get the plastering work in the church done before Ash Wednesday. It was decided that the workers need access to the church all next week. If they can start earlier in the day, it would help them finish faster. For that reason, we will have Daily Mass in the St Francis Chapel in the Lee Center next week.
It would seem, given the numbers of people we have been having at the daily Masses that everyone will fit. It will be a little cozier. If you have qualms about being too close to people right now you might refrain from coming. I am sorry about any inconvenience this might cause. Luckily this is a situation that will only last a short time.
May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark