Unlimited Healing

 Do you believe that I am able to do this?  This is the question that the Savior poses back to two blind men.  They come in hopes of being healed.  But their plea to the Lord does not call out that request explicitly.  Their request is far more broad based than, “Will You heal our blindness?” 

What is their plea, then?

Son of David, have mercy on us!  The Name they use, “Son of David,” indicates a spiritual vision not displayed by the Pharisees.  The title is indicative of their recognition of our Lord’s rightful claim to being labeled “King of the Jews”, and one might go so far as to attach their use of the reference to David as extending to their recognizing Jesus as Messiah.

Once again, we scripturally encounter “The Jesus Prayer”.

But let’s move forward to the healing.

In response to the Lord’s question, Do you believe…, the blind men’s response is simple.  Yes, Lord.  St. Matthew records that Jesus touched their eyes.  But then hear the humility of God the Son.  He does not call attention to Himself with an exclamation such as “I heal you – go in peace.”  Rather the Lord ‘reflects’ the miracle back onto the blind men.  According to your faith let it be to you.  Putting this another way, the Lord is saying, “You say you believe.  Prove your belief by showing that you are healed.

Isn’t this intuitively backwards from how we approach our prayers of need?

When we’re ill, our prayer may take many different forms.  It may begin as did these blind men with the Jesus Prayer.  It may begin with thanksgiving – “Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with adversity, for it places me at Your feet seeking Your intercession.”  It may being with desperation – “Lord, I have no other help but You….”

Whatever form our prayer takes, we offer it and then sit back and wait for the Lord to answer.

I think this might be rooted in some sort of misplaced humility.  “I don’t know the Lord’s will….”  Remember two instances from scripture. 

The first is from the Gospel of St. Mark (9:23-24) where Jesus encounters the man with the epileptic son.  Our Lord’s words?  If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.  And we know the man’s reply.  Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

The second is from the Gospel of St. Luke (5:12-13) where a leper comes to the Lord and says, Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”  St. Luke records that Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.

It is not the Lord Who is slow to answer our prayers.  It is we who are slow to exhibit faith in His providence and His love for us.

Today’s lesson ends with yet more healing.  Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  Notice this does not say “some disease,” nor even “many diseases.”  The word is EVERY, meaning ALL MANNER of sickness.  Today’s Gospel focuses on blindness, leprosy and demon possession.  But there’s truly no limit to our Lord’s healing.