Matthew 9:27-38 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 9:27-38 on biblegateway.com
Verse 27As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" Verse 28When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Verse 29Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." Verse 30And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this." Verse 31But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district. Verse 32After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. Verse 33And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, "Never has anything like this been seen in Israel." Verse 34But the Pharisees said, "By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons."
Verse 35Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. Verse 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Verse 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; Verse 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Devotion
It’s all about healing. The crowds knew that. The word had gone out and people desperate for healing, unable to heal themselves, came to Jesus. Jesus’ compassion—the compassion of the creator God—reached out to reclaim creation from corruption and disease. Let it be said clearly that people feeling helpless and harassed are difficult at best, angry and violent at worst. It is not easy to feel sympathy for such folks. But Jesus, seeing deeply into their confused distress, moved among them bearing God’s own mercy. Even more, Jesus encourages us to pray and be the answer to prayer by seeking deeply in our own day and daring to bear God’s compassion where there is need. We come to you, dear Lord, yearning for healing for our many ills and sorrows. None of us comes whole; all of us long for your healing presence.
Prayer
Healing God, we pray for ourselves also that we might go with patience and compassion among your confused and angry children in our own time and place. Strengthen us for wholeness and for healing. Amen.