Youth for Christ Sto. Tomas Cluster

02102012

1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19 / Psalm 81

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decap’olis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him. And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Eph’phatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”

JUST HERE

More or less 2,000 years ago, I feel that people were much blessed than we do for the simple reason that for them,  a high five or hug from the Lord did not seem far from happening. Things seem to be a lot easier then. There was no need for long distance prayers because Jesus was literally in their midst.  The adverb “here” was something accurate and the word “healing” meant touching Jesus’ cloak or a pat on his shoulder.

Sometimes, thoughts like these pay visits to my  strange mind. Questions like “Where is the Lord?”, “Why can’t I hug and squeeze him when I feel like doing so, or when I need Him?” frequent my mind.  I have always ‘envied’ the people who were with Him while He was still “here”.

Then suddenly, there seemed to be someone who hit me in the head saying “Hey Koo! Don’t be literal! I am still ‘here’. If you come to think of it, you are luckier than those people. As I say “Life is a matter of faith, and not of sight. I am the Lord who makes all things well, I can make the deaf hear, the mute speak, the blind see, the numb feel and the foolish wise.”

Indeed, those who merely believe in the Lord without even seeing Him are more faithful than those who really did along with his miraculous deeds. We today, put our faith with someone we never saw, yet this belief heals us with our figurative deafness, muteness, blindness, numbness and foolishness.

The Lord can even make the unbelieving faithful. This should be more than enough to assure us that He is just here with me—and there with you.


Writer:  Kookoo Moreno | Artist: Arvin Caro

via CFCYOUTHFORCHRIST.NET