Many people
would attest that they have been touched by God’s love and compassion. However,
few have known the physical intimacy experienced by the deaf man with a speech
impediment described in Mark’s gospel, for Jesus “put his finger in the man’s
ears, and, spitting, touched his tongue.” What an odd, intrusive sensation that
must have been! Yet, as the man discovered, when we allow Christ to enter into
our lived experience of pain, trauma, and limitation, healing can occur.
Naturally, the
man was exultant at recovering his hearing and speech. However, apparently he
needed to relearn how to listen, because he disregarded Jesus’ instructions not
to tell anyone.
We don’t know
why Jesus didn’t want news of the healing to spread; perhaps he wished to
continue his work a while longer before attracting the attention of the Jewish religious
leaders, which he knew would lead to his death. Often we don’t understand why
God asks something of us, especially when it counters our own instincts and desires.
However, the perspective of Scripture and the hindsight of our own experiences
teaches us that we need to trust God’s motives, which are always centered in love
and wholeness.
Out of
compassion, God responds to our desire for healing, but in return we are asked
to trust in God’s ways. Those who do so are drawn into a deepening intimacy with
the Author of life.
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