file: /pub/resources/text/taize/johannine: jh9410.txt
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October 1994 - JOHANNINE HOURS - Matthew 8,14-17

Often sick people, or their friends or relatives, asked Jesus to cure
them. Here Jesus himself, entering the humble home of Peter the
fisherman, notices his disciple's mother-in-law lying on a bed in a
corner of the room. Everything takes place in silence. The sick woman
does not call out, and Jesus heals her without a word. It is the only
time in the gospels that Jesus meets someone with no words being spoken.
In the mystery of this silence, we already glimpse the figure of the
humble servant of God whose "voice is not heard in the streets"
(Matt 12,19) and who will not open his mouth in the presence of his
accusers (Matt 26,63). And so, the woman he heals also becomes a humble
servant. She does not thank Christ with words, but by serving him.

The evening of that same day, many sick people are brought to Jesus. He
does not look down upon any of them; he even welcomes those who are
"possessed," those whose human dignity is most disfigured. In
this passage, we read that Christ did speak. He casts out the evil
spirits "with a word." But the quote from the prophet Isaiah that
interprets the event emphasizes the silent compassion of Jesus the
servant. He takes our weaknesses and bears them. In the languages of the
Bible, these two words have a double meaning, signifying also "to
remove, to take away." In Christ's compassion, as he takes upon himself
our sufferings, the fire of God blazes, removing evil.

What do I expect from Christ, perhaps without even daring to ask him for
it?

What does Jesus' silence when he meets Peter's mother-in-law suggest to
me?

By what act of service can I thank Christ for the good he has done for
me?

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