Jesus Christ

Grape leaf and bunch of grapes gilded on a church door in Israel

Best for last

Sometimes scripture can seem sparse on details; other times there are details that we just gloss over. During Sunday’s Gospel, John’s account of the wedding feast at Cana, one thing stood out to me even though I’ve heard this passage numerous times. 

The account of Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine has been reviewed and commentated on for thousands of years. When it comes to the dialog within the passage, many focus on what is said between Mary and Jesus. But if we consider that no dialog account is without need or meaning within scripture, then the address given by the head waiter deserves to have a closer look. 

“Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Jn 2:10

Some may look at this as a third-party proof that Jesus changed the water into wine. But what if there is a deeper meaning? Is this only about the wine served at a wedding over 2,000  years ago? Or is it an eternal statement? 

From Genesis to the Psalms to Isaiah, various aspects of a wedding and marriage are described throughout the Old Testament. It is the building block of society. It is the family church. It reflects the relationship within the Trinity, albeit very imperfectly. The wedding feast is often considered to be an allegory used to describe eternity: it’s the picture that is painted for us humans as to what eternal life will look like when we are in heaven. Even the Church often describes herself as the bride of Christ. As members of the Church, we too are brides of Christ in that we are preparing for our marriage to God, which is our eternal life in heaven. The covenant of marriage is a sacred bond, so anything within the scriptures that references a wedding or marriage should cause us to pay more attention to the passage and look beyond the superficial meaning within the account. 

How is it that we know what was said between two unnamed people in this story? John being deeply spiritual in his reflections of his time with Jesus, includes this portion of the conversation because it takes on significance regarding our eternal life. If we think our life on earth is good, what is waiting for us is far superior. What the head waiter commented to the bridegroom at that moment refers to what Jesus, as bridegroom to the Church, does for our lives in saving the best for last. Through the ministry that Jesus carries out, He is able to open heaven to those who profess in word and deed that He is the Son of God and our Savior. Heaven is the good wine. Life is transformed from just plain old water to the tasty, refreshing wine. That our life on earth, a physical existence in time and space, is transformed into eternity with God, never in need or want again. 

As Christians, it is important for us to remember that our life is not contained to just our earthly existence. What we do daily impacts our readiness for the life to come. We hope for an eternal life spent with God, seeing Him as He truly is. We can be confident that God does provide the best: life that is everlasting. 

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Welcoming what’s next

January seems like a time for new beginnings. We seem eager to make resolutions to eat healthier, exercise more, spend time with family, and pray more consistently. But are we really open to what’s next?

As human beings, we exist in a realm of time. We mark the passage of it and make plans for what will come. From seconds to hours, days to centuries, no amount of time is too small or too big for us to track, or at least we try to do so. Yet, we really don’t have any control over time. We can’t slow it down or make it go faster. Neither can we control what happens at any point in time. We can make the most perfect plan, and circumstances outside of our control render a whole timetable… useless. No matter how many times this happens to us, we keep making plans. Perhaps this is a reflection of the deep-seeded hope we all have as children of God. We don’t know what will happen next, so we broadly choose to be hopeful and optimistic. There may be circumstances when this is difficult, like when dealing with a health crisis. However, our Catholic faith encourages us during these difficult moments — even when facing the possibility of death — that not only is God with us, but that the end of earthly life is not the end of our existence. 

At the start of the year, time has so much potential and promise. We may have a long-awaited trip that suddenly seems imminent. Perhaps there is a new job or a new home that we’re preparing for. There is a sense of excitement about what’s to come. Usually, though, these are all plans that we have made. We are ready and looking forward to them. But what about all the things that happen that are unexpected? Are we looking forward to them? Are we ready to welcome surprises in our lives? For some, the answer is an easy yes, no matter if it seems to be a positive change or an unpleasant challenge. Many will have some level of struggle, depending on the unanticipated result. 

Since we are still in the Christmas season, the example of the Holy Family is one to keep in mind throughout the year, especially when we do face the unforeseen. Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem may have been planned by God, but wasn’t expected when Mary and Joseph were initially betrothed. Another curve ball was thrown their way when the angel in Joseph’s dream told him to flee to Egypt. Neither event was easy for them and we will never really appreciate the strength of faith it took for them to participate in God’s salvific will. In our modern day of convenience, any interruption to ease is made into a catastrophe. We’re so accustomed to having things mostly go our way, that we struggle to imagine that the unexpected could result in something positive or will bring about a greater good than our initial expectation.

While it’s good for us to make plans for 2025, perhaps one of the improvements we can practice is to be open to the unexpected. Practice does not mean that we will respond immediately with gladness at every unplanned situation that occurs, nor should we. It means we will reflect on our responses and strive to have a peace-filled approach to future ones, remembering God is with us and allowing Him to bring the best possible outcome regardless of circumstances. And if the surprise is truly unwelcomed, it’s okay to ask God to help us through it. He may not remove the obstacle from our life experience, but He will assist us as we navigate through it. 

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Christmas message

Merry Christmas! It’s finally here. The day we’ve been preparing weeks for has arrived. Now we celebrate by responding to the marvelous message God has given creation: His Son.

The past few weeks may have seemed overwhelming, not just in activities but all the directives that have come our way. It seems impossible not to be bombarded with announcements of the best gift to give loved ones, instructions on how to decorate, and setting expectations to party with family and friends. As enjoyable as gift-giving, decking the halls, and festive gatherings are, we can find ourselves feeling a bit “grinchy” this time of year. These messages, be it via television, social media, or even in movies and music, can feel like it’s too much noise for our brains to process. The remedy is some quiet reflection with God and His message at the birth of Jesus.

To the shepherds, it was just another day on the job. These men were the lowest rank of society and probably didn’t enter villages and towns very often. Did they own the livestock they were watching or were they hired hands? Did they like their job? We don’t know because those details aren’t important. The important detail is their response to the angel’s message. Were they afraid? Possibly, but these men spent most of the time on guard, watching for predators and ready to intervene for the flock.They must have been rather hardy men, so it may have been more of shock and surprise that they would be the recipients of angelic tidings. They could have ignored the angels, or listened to their message and thought it was interesting but since it didn’t affect their flock that it was of no consequence to them. Instead, they sought out the new family. They had nothing to offer, except for one of the sheep or goats they were caring for. We also don’t know what happened afterwards, but there is no doubt they were changed because of the encounter. Because of the message, they became seekers of God and truth.

The magi are also known as wise men. Why are they considered wise? Because they were seekers. They studied the stars and other heavenly bodies, but they weren’t just satisfied with a general understanding of which stars were found where and at what time of year. When the natal star of Jesus arose, they recognized this one was different and sought out its meaning. The star was their message and they responded as well — to seek out the King of the Jews. They followed the light of this unusual celestial orb, not just to Jerusalem, where they expected to find a Jewish king, but further out to Bethlehem where the Holy Family was residing. Were they surprised at the humble abode of this princely son? Did they feel like they had been duped when they realized the simplicity of the family? Given the detail in Matthew’s Gospel that they returned home by a different route after being warned in a dream, these men were changed.(Mat 2:12) What they did and said when they returned to their homes is unknown. The importance of the magi is that all are called to seek and receive the message of Christmas, God-becoming-man to save us from ourselves and repair the fractured relationship with God, so that we too can be called sons and daughters of Him who created us.

My Christmas wish for you is that you are able to take the time to be seekers of truth and respond to the message God sent us so many years ago. May the coming of Jesus into your hearts change you to become the best version of yourself in alignment with God’s will. Christmas blessings to you all! Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all mankind.

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Prepare for peace

Just one week left… until it’s Christmas. One of the titles of Jesus is Prince of Peace. In these last days, let our final preparations make us ready to receive peace.

Christmas can be a very hectic time of year, especially for parents with young children. Peace may seem like a far away dream. Yet even a solo person can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of decorating, baking, visiting, and just trying to make the most of the events during this season. It may be early mornings or late nights as we try and squeeze in as much holiday fun as we can. As wonder-filled as these activities are, they can also leave us drained and lower our ability to find peace. 

What is peace? One of the five definitions, according to Merriam-Webster, is freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. While there were others that referred to societal or relational states, I thought that definition was the best one to fit what Jesus brings to us. Out of our personal peace can we then have relationships and a society that can be at peace. Perhaps the best definition is the one we heard in last Sunday’s second reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians, “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7)

How can we prepare for peace? One of the best methods is reconciliation, not just the sacrament, but also to apologize to those whom we have wronged. Seeking forgiveness from others requires us to be humble, to be vulnerable to another while admitting our mistake. We can also choose to forgive those that we may be harboring hurt feelings against. Whether it’s an old hurt or a new, raw one, when we let go of the pain we are carrying, we can be open to the peace of God. We can’t seek or grant forgiveness completely by ourselves as it’s often a burden that is too hard for us to lift and we need to seek God’s assistance for the strength to do so. Passing judgements and holding grudges are both oppressive thoughts and disquieting emotions. Every time we think of whatever the wrong that was done is an opportunity to feed the negativity that builds up the burden and makes it harder to forgive or find forgiveness. 

Just like joy and needing a savior, peace is also something that we need to be open to receiving. We can say we want it, but if we build walls of resentment  towards others, peace is not something that can find a home in us. Taking time for quiet contemplation and prayer can help us identify where we need to address the hurt that we caused or that was directed towards us. In the quiet silence, yet another definition of peace, we can encounter the mercy of Jesus, allowing it to be both a balm for our hurts and the strength to seek forgiveness from others. 

Peace is not something we can take, rather it is something we receive. If we can receive it, does that mean we can give it? Only when we are at peace ourselves can we share it with those around us and in turn welcome their peace into ourselves. Thus we can only welcome Jesus as Prince of Peace when we have prepared ourselves to receive and share peace. May we all be able to find a moment each day to prepare to receive the peace that only God can give us at Christmas. 

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Prepare for joy

As we approach the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday, we are reminded that we are to rejoice, the translation of gaudete. How can we prepare to be full of joy?

There can be many reasons why it can be hard to be joyful, even during the Christmas season. Perhaps it’s the recent loss of a loved one or the anniversary of their passing. Perhaps it’s physical ailment that’s hampering your preparation. Sometimes it’s circumstances that we find ourselves in that make stress and worry seem to be more plentiful than joy. God knows all that we are going through, but He does not want us dwelling in what is holding us back from experiencing His love, peace, and joy. He knows that we each need a little joy in our life, not just at Christmas, but every day. At Christmas, however, we are called to be joyful through the hope-filled faith in the Baby Jesus. 

One breath. One heartbeat. Sometimes in order to find joy, we need to look at the smallest things. As overwhelming as life can get, we can find joy in the moment when we take in a deep breath, or listen to our heart beating. I may not be able to thank God for the struggle, but I can thank God for allowing me another second, another minute, another hour, or another day. Perhaps joy can be found in the presence of a loved one, in a smile on a child’s face, or just the beauty of nature in your community. If we look for things to rejoice about, we will find them. Instead of focusing our attention on what ails us, this season we are called to focus on the joy God has given us in this world. We can choose to be joyful, even if it is for a fleeting moment of the day. 

The Gospel reading for the third Sunday of Advent gives insight to ways that can lead us to be joyful (Lk 3:10-18). John the Baptist counsels the people to share the food and clothing they have, thinking of others’ needs rather than themselves. If we are having trouble finding joy in our lives, sometimes helping others, donating our time or money, can give us a boost to find joy this season. While John the Baptist tells the tax collectors not to take more than prescribed and the soldiers to be satisfied with their wages, we can interpret that for our age of being satisfied with what we have, rather than being jealous of others. This is a great reminder that when we receive a gift this season, that we appreciate whatever the giver has gifted us, rather than complaining or rejecting the gift. When we rejoice over what we have, and share with others who are in need — and share the joy of our plenty — we will find the peace of the Spirit in ourselves.

If we want to rejoice this Christmas season, we do need to prepare ourselves to receive the gift of joy that God wants to bestow on us. We need to be open to whatever manner that joy will come into our lives. Let us use this third week of Advent to pray each day to be a willing recipient to the joy of Christmas.  

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Preparing for a Savior

In our fallen world, we all need a savior, and that’s what Jesus is. But how do we prepare for being saved?

Before all the holiday festivities start, we take the time of Advent to prepare. As we approach the second Sunday in Advent, we are reminded of Jesus’ immediate forerunner, John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who called people to repentance through baptism. John was not baptizing to forgive the people’s sins, only a sacrament instituted by Jesus would be able to do that. The baptism John provided was a sign, a symbol, an acknowledgement that a person was taking accountability for the sins they committed. They were being baptized to turn a page in their book of life not to fall back into the same sins they had been committing. The waters of baptism were like a rebirth, a new starting point, and a new way to live. 

Like the people in the surrounding area of Jerusalem, we too are especially called in Advent to acknowledge our sins. Only instead of being submerged in water, we humbly seek God’s forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation. In order to be saved, we need to identify what is keeping us from a close relationship with God. While God loves us at every moment of our lives, that does not mean He wants us to continue our sinful ways. When we choose our will over God’s will, we turn away from Him and prohibit His grace from having its fullest effect. When we see another, do we see the reflection of the Divine Image within or do we pass judgment based on looks and actions? Having a relationship with God is not only about loving Him and His will for us, but also those who He has placed in our path each day. 

I don’t want to be saved, I need to be saved. We may be able to bumble our way through life with a mediocre relationship with God, and if that’s all there was, that may be acceptable. But our lives do not end with the completion of our earthly life, our souls live on. If we want to be in the presence of God for all eternity, just wanting to be saved is not enough. We should consider our savior as  equivalent to air to those choking or nourishment to those starving. We raise our hands and cry out from the depth of our souls to be rescued. Advent preparation is our time to stop what we are doing, turn to God, and seek His forgiveness and assistance. Like a person who needs to be rescued, we don’t continue in our daily routine, but interrupt it and focus on who and where our help is coming from. 

In order for Jesus to be our Savior, we need to desire to change our sinful habits, take responsibility for our sins, and sincerely commit to improve our behavior. While celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation is an important part of our preparation, equally important is taking extra time for God; by praying, reading the scriptures, and meditating on His words and blessings. By seeing Jesus in all the people we meet and offering to God all that we do each day, we will spread God’s love throughout the Advent season.

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Saving Promise

The season of Advent begins on Sunday, and it is synonymous with waiting. Yet it is also a time of fulfillment. Can both be possible at the same time?

God’s promise of a savior was made to Adam and Eve at their fall. They had disrupted their relationship with God, contaminating it for all their offspring. God then spends the generations documented in the Old Testament as preparation for the Savior, His Son. While some may view this time as God withholding His promise, He wasn’t causing the delay for no reason. The people needed to learn how to be a people of God, albeit very imperfectly. This is the first sense of Advent, waiting for a promise, yet being prepared for the same. It is an active waiting, and to some degree, it is the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise.

Many people may equate Advent with the gestation of Jesus in Mary’s womb. Thankfully we only have to wait for four Sundays and a few days rather than the normal nine months that Mary did. Yet here again is both waiting and fulfillment. No longer was there preparation of the Israelites, the Savior was conceived and growing in Mary. The angel’s announcement and Mary’s consent put the promise into action. But there was still waiting needed: waiting for a child to be born and waiting for a child to grow to maturity. 

When Jesus started his mission work, it too was both a time of waiting and a time of fulfillment. People were being healed, their souls were being saved one by one. Yet the Savior would need to die for all, and not just die, but resurrect as well. That would be the complete fulfillment and that would be after three years of traveling around the Judean countryside preaching and teaching. 

The Advent season commemorates the seasons of waiting and fulfillment in the past, as well as preparing for the current Christmas season, and the return of Jesus at the end of time. Our activities should be a healthy mix of pondering and preparing for all three. It is comforting to consider that God does not leave us up to our own devices during our waiting. As God gave the most excellent Gift of His only Son in order that we can have a relationship with Him, we are called to put into practice the love God has for all His children, by sacrificing a bit of our time, talent, or treasure with those in need of our help. We don’t just stand idly by waiting for December 25, instead we seek to grow our relationship with God by seeking out quiet time with Him, celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation, and correcting bad habits that continue to keep us from doing God’s will.

As we focus our attention on the single, purple candle lit in the Advent wreath this weekend, let us open our hearts to both patience in waiting, and a quick response to the opportunities that will prepare our souls for Jesus’ coming.

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Heavenly mansion

We have just over a week left of this liturgical year and the readings are focused on the end of time. While the physical world may be tethered to time and space, our soul will continue to live in eternity. How we see eternal life in heaven may be more strongly influenced but what we rank as important.

In John’s Gospel during the Last Supper, Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” (Jn 14:1-3) At one point, instead of using the word dwelling place, it was translated as mansion. In the English language, there are so many different words one could use when describing a place where one lives, but a dwelling place does not ring very cozy vibes or a sense of belonging. Why isn’t the word home used in the translation? A quick look in Merriam-Webster for the definition of dwell and the definitions solidify the use of this word: 1 – to remain, 2 – to live/exist, 3 – to keep the attention directed. 

Heaven is a place where, provided that we cooperated with God’s will for our life, we will remain forever with God. It is also a place where our immortal souls will continue living until the end of time when they will be reunited with our bodies, so that both soul and body will be living in heaven. And most fundamentally, heaven is the place where we will be in the presence of God, with all our attention on Him. Heaven is, literally, a place to dwell with God, in the fullest possible meaning of the word. 

After this exploration, why does seeing, and perhaps thinking about a heavenly mansion give a little thrill of wonder and excitement at the possibility, unlike the reference of a dwelling place? Is it in the preparation; that God is making it special just for us? Is it about being rewarded for the hardships we endure? If we just suffer through whatever issue is plaguing us, that will make our place in heaven bigger or grander? Or do we think that everyone will receive their own 5 million square foot mini palace? If God sits on a throne, why can’t we have a mini palace? 

As I was thinking about this post, instead of countless sprawling mansions, I pictured something that would have been used in monasteries and abbeys, where you would have a central church and communal gathering space, encircled by a small courtyard that itself would be surrounded by the individual cells of the religious community members living there. As God is infinite, those cells or rooms can be stacked vertically into infinity and everyone has a front-row seat to God’s presence, each from the place that is their own. We will never truly know until we get there, but I like the image. 

Perhaps as we close out the liturgical year and prepare to enter the Advent season, we think of our current home as a dwelling place, where God remains, lives with us each day, and is our primary focus for all that we do. If we begin to live this heavenly attitude now, it won’t matter if it is a shack or a castle, but as long as we belong in God’s presence, it will be all that we need for eternity.

Mary at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, Washington DC

Rosary and repentance

October is the month dedicated to the Rosary. As I watched a recent video from Fr. Mike Schmitz on its biblical roots, he pointed out a common message in the Marian apparitions included the actions of repentance and of praying the rosary. 

I don’t think I ever considered the rosary as a tool towards repentance. I’ve always thought of it as a way to walk with Jesus and Mary through their life on earth. But as I began to ponder, even just the first set of joyful mysteries, there is so much in them that can both help us to identify how we can improve as a disciple of Jesus as well as accompany Him through the major events of His life. 

The joyful mysteries are all about the beginning of the Holy Family. They include both the joys of becoming a family with the nativity of Jesus, as well as the challenges of finding their Son in the Temple. With Jesus being a child, one might use it solely to instruct children about being mindful of their parents, however, I think the same can go for adults as well! As an adult, do we care for the elders in our family, be it a grandparent, parent, aunt/uncle, or even an older sibling? How can we bring the light of Christ to these relationships? The fourth commandment to honor your father and mother is one of the moral directives God gave the Israelites through Moses. Many of the other commandments that follow the fourth could also be used for reflection in terms of how they affect family life and our participation in it. 

The sorrowful mysteries may be easier to correlate with repentance due to the suffering that Jesus endured. Walking through these events of Jesus’ life brings to mind the cost of our sins. Yet the secular world around us constantly expects us to always seek comfort and ease. While we don’t need to chase after suffering, do we allow it in our lives when it does come? Do we see it as a way to grow closer to God? God is generous in both His blessings and the challenges He allows, but neither should be handled just on our own. Do we look to share our blessings with others and seek support from God and neighbor when troubles arise? There are numerous accounts of saints who had some sort of medical issue, but yet had joyful exuberance. Do we seek their intercession when our tempers are short due to pain or misfortune?

The luminous mysteries, or more specifically, the third mystery is paired with repentance. Reflecting on the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, it includes the call to conversion. In the beginning of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus says, “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:15) These mysteries underscore a life of faith. They remind us of the sacraments we’ve received and that we are to live our lives according to the grace given to us in these sacraments. How much do we look to our faith to guide us in making decisions? Do we practice our faith regularly and make time to pray and deepen our relationship with God?

The glorious mysteries seem to be farthest from repentance, yet it is these mysteries that give us a reason to repent. We are not stuck in our sins! Jesus has redeemed us and repaired our ability to have a relationship with God. He has given us a model of His life to follow. These mysteries are the hope we have that we can improve. The first step we must take is to acknowledge our sins. We take ownership of the wrongs we have committed, and with full sorrow, ask for God’s mercy and do our best to avoid these. It may take a lifetime of practice, but Jesus’ resurrection, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and even the assumption of Mary, focuses our attention on a world beyond what we see. If we want to participate fully in that world, we need to seek a relationship with God now. 

The rosary is a powerful weapon. Let us use this month to practice wielding the rosary to illuminate what separates us from God, to give us the grace to seek His mercy, and gratitude for all the blessings it brings.

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Necessary means

Last Sunday’s Gospel is a reminder to us that Jesus not only came to heal us, but He will go to whatever means necessary to do so. Each healing, like each person, is unique, since we all suffer differently.

The healing of the deaf man in Mark’s Gospel (Mk 7:31-37) has a number of curious details. I’ve read a few commentaries on it, but in reflecting on it this time, I was struck by how different this healing is. It’s not uncommon for friends to plead to Jesus to heal another. Way back in the beginning of Mark’s Gospel is the healing of the paralytic, whose friends cut through the roof to lower him down to be in Jesus’ presence. (Mk 2:1-12) There are no details indicating that Jesus touched the man or interacted with him in any way more than forgiving him of his sins. Yet for this deaf man, Jesus removes him from being among the crowd. Some say it illustrates that we need to be away from the noisy world to be able to hear God speaking, which is a valid point.

Perhaps leaving the crowd had a more practical purpose. If someone who has not experienced any noise suddenly hears a cacophony of sound, I would think that would be greatly overwhelming. Perhaps the person would respond by removing themselves from a situation that was too noisy. Take a moment and think about what a gentle, compassionate, and caring Savior we have! Jesus is going to take us to a place where our healing can be well received and appreciated. How would you react if you never heard a sound and Jesus says a few words to heal you and the first thing you ever hear is a multitude of people talking at once? Maybe some of your friends who brought you to Jesus whoop with delighted excitement at your healing. If you never heard that before in your life, you might not realize that noise is a good thing. You might actually prefer the silence of deafness because that’s all you know. 

In another healing account earlier in Mark (5:25-34), Jesus heals the woman suffering from a hemorrhage not because she asked Him to, but simply because she believed and touched a piece of His clothing. Jesus can heal, seemingly, without any effort at all. Yet in this account, Jesus not only touches the man, but “He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue.” Notice the text doesn’t say that Jesus merely touched his ears, but inserted His finger into them. I must admit when I hear this Gospel passage, I do recoil at the mention of Jesus’ holy spit. Yet Jesus found this step necessary to heal the man. How many of us would want healing if it meant being spit upon? 

The effort Jesus uses to heal the man doesn’t stop with these invasive actions. Jesus groans. Thinking of situations that I would groan would be either from a tremendous, physical effort, or something requiring complex, mental gymnastics to think through. Healing this man sounds like it took much effort from Jesus, the Son of God! Perhaps, here too the groaning had multiple objectives. It may have required much prayer from Jesus to the Father, but it also may have been a way Jesus could communicate with the deaf man as he was being healed. Since Jesus had His fingers in his ears, maybe the man could feel Jesus groaning until the point he could actually hear it as well. Every action that Jesus took to heal this man was unique to his condition.

Jesus knows what we need and how we need to be healed. He also knows when we’re ready to be healed. Let us continue to pray, not only for our own healing, but that of others as well. Let us be open to Jesus’ methods because they are truly for our specific needs.