“And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him.” –Mark 7:32
In our Gospel passage today, Jesus healed a man who could not hear or speak. He was essentially cut off from communicating with others. But Jesus was able to communicate His healing touch to the man. Notice that Jesus took the man aside privately. Healing
is one-on-one work. Then Jesus touched the man’s ear with His finger. Jesus communicated His healing power through touch.
St. Gregory the Great taught, “The Spirit is called the finger of God. When the Lord put his fingers into the ears of the deaf mute, he was opening the soul of man to faith through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus Himself opened the deaf man’s ears. This poor man couldn’t even approach Jesus on his own. Other people brought him to Jesus. The active faith of the people who helped the deaf man played a part in opening his soul to the Lord. Jesus took the man aside to heal him one-on-one, but the deaf man needed these other people to bring him forward for healing.
It gives me great hope that in his weakness, the deaf man only had to rely on other people to intercede for him. All he had to do was cooperate with his friends. This causes me to reflect on who in my life is in need of healing. Who needs me to bring them to the Lord in prayer? Whose soul needs to be opened to the Lord, and how can I imitate the faithful people in today’s reading and beg Jesus to help him or her?
Jesus, I believe that You can heal all wounds, spiritual, mental, and physical. I place (specific person) before You now and beg You send Your Holy Spirit out and powerfully heal this person. Open his/her heart to Your miracles and Your Way. Thank you, too, Lord, for the countless people who have prayed for my healing in my times of weakness.