FRIDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2024
FRIDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
1 Kings 11:29-32, 12:19
Mark 7:31-37
THE DESIRE OF JESUS FOR OUR WELLBEING
The gospel of today gives us a glimpse of the mind of Jesus who took authority over our infirmities, by commanding good health into the life of the impaired.
Jesus cures the deaf and the dumb man who was brought to him. He did this invoking the powers both in heaven and earth. The symbolism of using his spittle and earth and speaking the words ‘Ephphatha’ brings to mind, the invocation of the powers of the earth and that of heaven, calling them to order and to bring to bear the wellbeing of this man.
And these words were very powerful, definitive, direct and certain. “Be opened.” It was not a suggestion, not a petition, not even a plead, but rather it was a command. Jesus commands our wellbeing. He commands the abnormal to be normal. He commands the sickness to begone and the bodily wholeness to be.
That is his desire and that is his mission. The messianic age is to bring about the wellbeing of man which Jesus is not taking lightly. He brings our normalcy to bear and in a drastic action. No excuses, no worries even and no questioning. He calls the deaf and dumb man aside and gives him back his life whole and entire.
His authority over our infirmities is absolute and definitive. He controls them, removed all, restores our life and brings back happiness. And most importantly, he restores our confidence in him, teaches us that life is his gift and our wellbeing is his designs and pleasure.
So that what was lost in the time of Solomon by the division of Solomon’s kingdom as we find in the first reading is restored in the new dispensation. For Solomon abandoned the God of Israel and did abominable things by erecting altars for others gods at the instance of his many wives he acquired. This apostasy of leaving and abandoning the God of Israel and believing and worshipping other gods displeased God. And his punishment was to loose the entire kingdom which the prophet, Ahijah prophesied to Jeroboam in the first reading of today that the kingdom will be divided and will be scattered.
But in the time of Jesus, this is what is restored and we regain our wellbeing, our pride, our salvation in Christ Jesus and we must seek our total wellbeing in Christ.
Let us therefore be confident in Jesus who uses authority to reclaim for us what we once lost by our sinfulness. Let us also desire to return to him and seek his help in bringing us back to full health and well-being as he desires.
Heavenly Father, it is your will that we become better, filled with life and wellbeing. You demonstrated your authority over our infirmities today in giving that command to the deaf and dumb man when you said “be open.” Give same command to all our sicknesses, infirmities, hurts and discomforts and restore us with your authority to wholeness and total wellbeing through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
