Recognizing Jesus as the Messiah

Homily for Friday of the 5th Week of Ordinary Time

The cure of the deaf man with a speech impediment comes with the familiar warning that he is not to tell anyone about it. Once again, Jesus is trying to draw people to himself for reasons other than his miraculous cures.

The prophet Isaiah had written “Then the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened,” in the thirty-fifth chapter of his work. This oracle is regarded as one of the signs of the Messiah. When John’s disciples come to ask Jesus if he is the one for whom they wait, Jesus responds by evoking this very same prophecy.

Their decision to publicize these events even after being told not to do so may seem as if they are disobeying Jesus. However, it may tell us that they are spreading the news for the right reason. They have come to recognize Jesus as the chosen one, the one about whom all the prophets wrote.

To read the Gospel as somehow a disregard for Jesus’ instructions may be a little superficial. The best part of the Gospel story is the people’s immediate recognition of Jesus as the Promised One and their understanding that this is good news to be shared. They do not let anything get in the way of doing so.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator