Happy Valentine’s Day.
In the Gospel according to Mark, a person with a disease begs Jesus to restore him to health. This man was not supposed to be around people. He’s isolated…unable to live with his family, or work, or attend religious services…rejected. Yet he chooses to face yet another rejection by approaching Jesus. And Jesus, “moved with pity,” heals him. Jesus goes on to say: “Tell no one” -- the so-called Messianic secret.
The highlight for me is this: the prayer was answered. Sometimes our prayers are answered. More often, they’re not, at least not the way we want. Indeed, we sometimes receive a no, and later realize that some good came out of that “no.”
We may pray to God for one thing or another, and we sense silence. We may even feel like giving up on God; or we may start thinking negatively about ourselves. What to do?
Let us pray not to succumb to negative feelings, but to rise above those feelings by reflecting on certain faith themes. Let's:
• Re-examine our image of God. Some think of God only
as a judge. But the bible offers a collage
of God-images. God is a walking companion in Genesis, a passionate
debater in the Book of Job, an anxious parent and a comforting mother in
Isaiah, a prodigal father in the Gospels. God is our ever-faithful companion.
• Remember God’s providence and care for us. Yes, count our
blessings. How often the ancient Hebrews forgot the wonders God worked for
them. Like a skilled pickpocket, God is present
in many different ways and we don’t know except by the evidence afterward. Our faith
says God is with us always.
• Know that you are in good company. Many others have known the silence of God. Job in his misfortunes. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The point is: keep praying. Because God is God. God’s ultimate purpose is for us to be like God, to see God face to face. God is our all-mighty creator, ultimately in charge; we are simply his creatures, marvelously created out of nothingness.
So, as we think of the leper whose prayer was answered, and as we think about our own prayers and relationship with God, remember God’s blessings and God’s continuing care for us.
The great 16th century saint Teresa of Avila, declared a Doctor of the Church, gives us this perspective:
“Let nothing disturb you;
Let nothing dismay you;
all things pass;
God never changes;
Patience gains
everything;
they who have God
lack nothing:
