Vogel: A few at a time

Posted

Headline: “Jesus cures cancer — millions saved!”

 

We may wish that such were the case, especially if we or our loved ones have been afflicted. We may even question, “why not?”

But the Gospel informs us clearly that Jesus healed individual persons and that faith was the common factor: Those who had faith were healed, those who witnessed the healing received faith.

It is foolish to question the “why” of the suffering and disease we encounter through our lifetimes. Leave that to the unbelievers. God’s purposes and the designs of His universe are beyond our comprehension.

Let us be like God’s children, trusting and willing to do His will.

In the Gospel, we also see Jesus’ compassion. He did not seek out suffering souls to heal in order to “show off” His power. Indeed, He sought refuge away from the throngs of people coming to Him for cures.

But each time He encounters the pleading of those afflicted, whether from them or from their loved ones, He opens His heart and lets healing flow forth.

Somehow, we perceive there is a burden borne with each one, as though each were a step toward Calvary.

 Though His healings sprung from His compassion, His passion was preaching the Gospel, the Good News that salvation was at hand. Repent! Put evil aside and focus your attention on the truth!

In His words, people recognized that truth which was written in their hearts by God. We must read the Gospel as we know it to hear His words and recognize the truth that is written in our hearts — “harden not your hearts.”

Only three individuals — Peter, James and John — did He bring with Him to the mountain to see Him in His glory. Not a pyrotechnic stage performance to impress the masses, but this glorious truth revealed to His beloved disciples, in whom He put so much trust.

Person by person, individual by individual, heart by heart, the seed of faith is sown and nourished. In His passion, death and resurrection we will see the fruit of those seeds.

And so it is with our faith, the truth we hold dear in our hearts.

The world can spin webs of falsehood and evil on a spectacular scale, but person to person we profess God’s truth.

Like Jesus, with compassion, we give of ourselves without thought of recompense, and faith grows in us as in those whose lives we touch.

That is the seed Jesus planted with every cure, with every word so many days ago. Season upon season, harvest upon harvest, generation upon generation.

Let it be so, in each thought, each deed, each prayer, every minute, every hour, every day!

Mr. Vogel is a member of Cathedral of St. Joseph parish in Jefferson City.

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