Mt 9:32-38
As they were going away, some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb, because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”
Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and `ing the good news of the kingdom; and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds, he was moved with pity; for they were harassed and help-less, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.”
REFLECTION
“He cured every sickness and disease.” A Statement like this one is found eight times in Matthew’s gospel alone (4:24, 8:16, 9:35, 12:15, 14:36, 15:31, 19:2, 21:14). And the other gospels agree with him (v.g. Lk 6:19). According to them, Jesus was a universalist healer and never excluded anyone from his therapeutic ministry. Not once did he say to someone: “I am really sorry, but I cannot remove your sickness (blindness, leprosy, paralysis, lameness, etc.) because it has been sent to you by my Father (as a punishment for your sins, a test for your faith, a means to make you grow in holiness, etc.). “Obviously Jesus is convinced that illness is never sent by his Father, otherwise he would not routinely “cure every sickness and disease.” Not only that, but he commissions his disciples to do the same (universalist healing, cf. Mt 10:1), and the Acts of the Apostles present the Apostles as doing precisely that (Acts 5:16).
This being the case, why on earth do a great number of Christians believe the opposite and blame God for their illnesses? What caring father would want his child to be sick? And God is the most loving Father one can imagine. Is there no end to our silliness?
CLARETIAN COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION, INC.
8 Mayumi Street, U.P. Village, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (02) 921-3984 • 922-00-11 • 921-28-59 Fax: (02) 921-6205, 927-7429
Bookstore: (02) 924-6835
Email: ccfi@claretianpublications.com / cci@claret.org
Website: www.claretianpublications.com
