Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
In the time of Jesus, there were many alleged healers who ended up being nothing but charlatans. We could easily imagine that many of those who brought their sick to Jesus at sunset in today’s Gospel had previously visited all kinds of healers and tried all kinds of remedies. Still, their hope didn’t fade, and they were willing to put themselves at the feet of this Jesus, whom so many had spoken of. Having encountered this veritable healer, the townspeople naturally do not want him to leave their presence. But Jesus has other towns to which he must go and proclaim the Good News.
What might this mean for us? Perhaps it means that the healing we so long for may come, even if it is in the sunset of life. And if we have been graced with a healing, a breakthrough, an undeniable feeling of God’s presence and providence in our lives, we should cherish the memory of it. We may not always feel God’s presence in such a way. Perhaps he’s out there with someone else, but he’ll be back. And this is good news we can live and proclaim.