The crowds were amazed and said,
“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
It wasn't just this or that specific miracle that impressed the crowds. It seemed to them that everywhere Jesus went healings were multiplied and countless souls were set free from demonic affliction.
He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak (see Mark 7:37).
Jesus had a ministry of miracles unlike any that had preceded it. It didn't matter how numerous were the crowds that came seeking him as long as they came with faith.
And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them (see Matthew 15:30).
There are two ways to receive a phenomenon like that of Jesus. The first and right way is to accept and welcome it with thanksgiving to God. But second, the way that is more characteristic of our fallen human nature, is to assume that it is too good to be true and that there must be something defective about it.
But the Pharisees said,
“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
We are rightly on guard against those who would take advantage of us. We have long been "troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd." But while we should flee from wolves that would harm us we should run toward the shepherd whose power and goodness is so evident. There is much that can be imitated by wolves masquerading as angels of light (see Second Corinthians 11:13-15). But they cannot produce good fruit, which is why we are told that it is by their fruit that we will know them (see Matthew 7:15-2).
When we see genuine healings, when we see the love, joy, and peace of the Holy Spirit, we are meant to recognize the presence of God in our midst. We need not imbibe the cynicism of the world which is always ready to discount the grace of God at work. The world does this as a means of self-protection but it has the opposite effect. It prevents them from coming to the Good Shepherd who alone can heal their feelings of distress and loneliness.
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
It is not only because the world is cynical that it still has not discovered the truth. It is also because there is a lack of people following in the footsteps of Jesus to bring that shepherding care to them. And this lack exists because we as Church do not pray for it enough. We pray for it, yes, but dispassionately and without much self-investment. We should instead strive for this blessing just as Jacob strove with the angel of God.
The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.”
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