As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, ‘See that no one knows of this.’But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.
After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, ‘Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.’ But the Pharisees said, ‘By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.’
So did you hear the one where Jesus said to the two former blind men: "SEE that no one knows of this!" Ha! Because, well, they can see now...get it?
(Of course, they can see, but it seems they can't hear clearly since they go and do the opposite that Jesus asks of them.)
The play on words here I think is a good reminder that Jesus takes the very infirmities we have - the healed or even the still vulnerable aspects of us that are not completely healed - and puts them to use. We heal and then are set out to use our gifts. Our healings, just like our blessings, are not for us alone.
A former drug addict becomes an addiction counselor.
An girl with a childhood leukemia becomes a cancer researcher or doctor.
A parent wracked by grief over the death of a child reaches out to parents suffering from the same loss.
A widower of a murdered woman becomes a Big Brother to help at risk teens.
A rape victim runs self-defense classes.
An amputee dances and skis and inspires others to do the same.
I can understand why these two blind men didn't want to hold it in: why they couldn't wait to spread the news of their healing. But rather than having them spread the news yet, Jesus was offering them a new start.
A new life. A life of seeing and believing and serving in a way that wasn't open to them before.
God of healing, you know my infirmities. Give me strength to endure and heal my wounded soul so that I can serve you and live! Amen
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