Just think.
Something wonderful
happens to you,
something life-giving,
something that changes
your pain into joy.
What do you do next?
But then?
What do you do
after you receive
something truly wonderful?
Do you not want
to tell someone?
Do you not want
to scream in utter happiness
that you have
received something marvellous?
And then
Jesus says,
"Sshh! Don't tell anyone!"
What do you do?
[PAUSE]
There are several times
when Our Lord
tells people that He heals
not to tell anyone
what has happened to them.
In this case,
Our Lord tells the leper
not to say what has happened
but concentrate
on fulfilling the Jewish Law
and present himself at the temple.
Our Lord
is effectively telling
the man He heals
to give thanks to God first
as a matter of priority.
But why can't the man
tell people on the way?
It is because
two men whose sight is restored
blab to all Capernaum
that Jesus can't go into a house
and teach
but must teach outside the city.
But surely,
people need to see the miracles!
Why?
Well,
more people will come
to Jesus and be healed.
Yes,
but when would
He be able to teach us
if He is busy healing everyone.
This is important,
if you think about it.
Our Lord comes
with the Good News
of our salvation
at His hands.
His message is about
Eternal life.
Where is the leper now?
Where are those blabbing blind men now?
All those whom Jesus heals
still die.
Our Lord is clear,
Miracles follow the Message
not the other way around.
He does not need
His miracles to be
seen by all and sundry.
If He did,
then His appearances
would be more like
a musical extravaganza
with fireworks
and people falling over
"slain in the spirit."
That's not what we get.
Our Lord heals people
as individuals
for their sake
and for the small group
of witnesses around,
not for the sake
of making a spectacle of Himself.
To those who demand
miracles from Him,
He will show
only His bloodstained body
dangling lifelessly
upon the Cross.
Even His Resurrection
is intimate,
reserved only for
those who love Him.
The miracles are not the message.
[PAUSE]
Our Lord is not
hiding His Light
under a bushel.
If He did,
then we would never
hear His word.
Even His Father speaks
in a still, small voice.
God needs no megaphone
on a street corner,
just those whom He calls
to preach His Gospel
by living that Gospel
and showing the love
of that Gospel.
We don't need to
perform miracles
like St Peter or St John,
we just speak the Truth
and, perhaps, something wonderful
will follow.
It is the miracles
that we hide under a bushel,
not the message.
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