Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today’s Gospel reading is in some respects unusual because it appears, at first glance, to be comprised of two parts that are in no way linked, except in that they happened in the same place. The first miracle (the healing of the two blind men) could be a stand-alone reading. The second miracle (the healing of the dumb demoniac) and the comments of the Pharisees that Christ drives out demons through the power of the ruler of the demons, could become the second separate reading. Some may also ask the question, why are these miracles included in the cycle of Sunday Gospel readings? Without a doubt they are wonderful, like all of our Saviour’s miracles, but these seem to lack that richness in meaning of the miracles that we read about in previous weeks. Today let’s try to tie together these separate miracles and explain their unified internal spiritual meaning.

Today’s reading presents Jesus Christ not so much as a miracle-worker as a meek and humble Man. Humility and meekness tie the two separate parts of today’s reading into one whole. Note that both miracles were performed by Christ not on the open road, not in the synagogue, but in a house. Not everyone could witness these events. During the first miracle, it is quite clear from the Gospel text that the house was empty. Only Christ, perhaps his disciples (or just some of them) and the two blind men were present. The Saviour strictly forbids the healed blind men from talking about the miracle to others. In such a way, Jesus Christ shows us a good example of not seeking glory, but of quietly and calmly doing good works.

Although the second miracle was witnessed by other people, Christ’s meekness is seen in another way. The Pharisees, after seeing such a multitude of Jesus’s great miracles and hearing His divine teaching, could no longer ignore Him. They could no longer deny the fact that in truth great miracles were being performed by this Man. As teachers, they had to give an assessment of Christ to the people. Before them stood a choice – to accept Jesus as the Christ (or at least admit that He is a prophet), or find some other explanation. They decided to accuse Christ, in the most filthy and ugly manner, of working miracles not through God, but through Satan. In such a way, they were able to ignore Christ and His Gospel and to teach the people to do likewise. In the meantime, our Lord, as we heard at the conclusion of today’s Gospel reading, didn’t lose heart after such a calumny, but continued to preach in all cities and towns, thus showing us His meekness.

The main idea of today’s Gospel reminds us that God did not become a man to seek out worldly glory, not even to perform miracles, but to be meek and humble, to endure insults, to suffer, to accept ignoble death on the cross. Although He could have allowed Himself any worldly pleasure, He willingly chooses to hide His Divine nature. Nowadays we are so used to always showing ourselves in the best light. We do this on social media, at work, and even in our families and at church. Would it not be better for us to take the example of Christ’s meekness and humility from today’s Gospel reading and, without advertising ourselves, do what we have to do?

priest Alexis