We continue the Marcan account of Jesus journey. He stayed close to the shoreline until he moved inland to the Sea of Galilee and the area of the ten cities (Decapolis). Clearly his reputation was growing. Friends of a man who was aurally and audibly challenged brought him to this man who could bring healing. It seemed so different "up north" of Jerusalem. In the "big city" Jesus' teaching and preaching, especially in the Temple was challenged by sophistication and distortion. Recall the "pious" Temple worshipers: "Who is this man? Whence comes this power to heal? He speaks with such authority!" Yet in the small village a good number of miles away from Jerusalem those who heard him preach and learned of his miraculous cures said "He has done all things well."
What can we learn from this event, especially to the snow-bound imprisonment that is trying the patience of more than a few? (1) Jesus deals with us one-on-one: he "took him off by himself away from the crowd." There was no need of "center-stage" or a wonderful "photo op." (2) Healing is a very personal experience, a moment of alone-ness with Jesus. (3) The simplicity of the people outside the "big city" seems to be so strong that the people there "get" what Jesus is teaching. They truly desire to hear Jesus speak ("proclaim", Mark writes, using the same verb that the evangelists use to say "proclaim the Good News"). These people had come to know the God Jesus was proclaiming. They listened and spoke with faith.
This particular action of Jesus is an invitation to and a reminder of discernment. It is a reminder that the Holy Spirit opens our ears and loosens our tongue in silent and personal encounters with Jesus. So often we find ourselves back at square one in our efforts to be the person God empowered us to be. How does this happen? Perhaps, just perhaps, we never let God pen our ears to free us from our self-imposed deafness!
So ... these days of so-called confinement: who could not use this gift as a time when Jesus is pulling us away from our usual days of non-rest to a grand opportunity for person discernment ... so see through the blurriness of our daily experiences to "healing-rest."
