The gift of healing

"They also serve who only stand and wait." This beautiful last line from John Milton's sonnet "On His Blindness" expresses the fear that we all have of losing any of our senses. There is, also a Japanese proverb which says:"Vision without action is a daydream, action without vision is a nightmare."

So often we take our senses for granted; sight, hearing, touch, smell and feeling. In the gospel of Mark we have many examples of how Jesus cured those who were afflicted by the loss of any of their senses.

"When they came to Bethsaida, Jesus was asked to touch a blind man who was brought to him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had put spittle on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked, "Can you see anything?." The man, who was beginning to see, replied, "I see people!. They look like trees, but they move around." Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again and the man could see perfectly. His sight was restored and he could see everything clearly. Then Jesus sent him home, saying, "Do not return to the village" (Mark.8:22-26)

The gift of feeling is one we, also, take for granted. Again in the gospel of Mark we see how Jesus cured a paralytic. "Again Jesus entered the synagogue. A man who had a paralysed hand was there and some people watched Jesus. Would he heal on the Sabbath? If he did they could accuse him. Jesus said to the man with the paralysed hand, "Stand here in the centre." Then he asked them, "What does the Law allow us to do on the Sabbath? To do good or to do harm? To save life or kill?." But they were silent. Then Jesus looked around at them with anger and deep sadness because they had closed their minds. And he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was healed. But as soon as the Pharisees left, they met with Herod's supporters, looking for a way to destroy Jesus." (Mark 3: 1-6)

"It is not the answer which enlightens, but the question." (Decouvertes) or as Confucius says: "The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials."