Doctor Bloom who was known for miraculous cures for arthritis had a waiting room full of people when a little old lady, completely bent over in half, shuffled in slowly, leaning on her cane. When her turn came, she went into the office, and, amazingly, emerged after 15 minutes –walking completely erect with her head held high. A woman in the waiting room said to her, “He is a miracle worker!” You walked in—bent in half and now you're walking erect. What did the doctor do?" She answered, "He gave me a longer cane!"
The Gospel today recounts a true miracle in the healing of the deaf-mute. They were proof of the divinity of Jesus and signs that the promised Messiah had come. In fact, we hear from Isaiah today, who says, “Here is your God who comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared, the lame leap like a stage, the tongue of the mute will sing.”
I’d like to focus on one detail of this event. St. Mark says, “And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him.” This tells us that the man was blessed to have friends who were concerned about him and who loved him. It was through these good friends that he was brought to Jesus.
We need others to know the Lord. Isn’t our faith the result of others passing on to us the truth and the traditions we hold? Each in their own way, our parents, priests, deacons, religious, catechists or friends were evangelizers.
We are called to continue that mission. How well do we carry it out? We can surely be a good friend to others but can we say, with all honesty, that I am a “Christian friend” to them? In conversation, do I hide my faith? Am I embarrassed by it?
Ever been in this situation? You go on vacation with friends. You’re with friends who are not Catholic or they are not the most fervent Catholics. It’s Sunday. The Church bells are heard in the distance? You begin to think: “Do I go to Mass? If I mention Mass, will my friends think I’m odd? I’m on vacation. Better not upset the schedule. Breakfast is on the agenda. Mass? Oh well!”
It happens—and when it does, haven’t we missed the opportunity to be a Christian friend, a disciple, an evangelizer?
Our love for Christ leads us to love those around us and that love should include a concern, a zeal for their spiritual well-being, their salvation.
Let’s then take an example from the anonymous friends who brought the deaf man to Christ and who proclaimed the marvel they witnessed.
Let’s ask for the grace of courage, of fortitude. Let’s resist the temptation to blend into the world. When we look the same, hold the same opinions as anyone else, who needs us? When we become as unfocused as anyone else, when we become an echo of the prevailing culture, what difference do we make in the lives of others?
The friends in today’s Gospel were instruments in the transformation of their friend. They were not just friends but evangelizers!