When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Mt. 11:2 How do you know what you are looking for? Eddie’s wife thinks she has found it in Eddie, Oprah and the Pope. Isn’t it provocative that Jesus says, “blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me” (see Matt 11:6). Why be offended? Jesus does what only God can do. He is either a blasphemer or he is who he says he is. He was charged by the Jewish authorities with blasphemy and handed over to Rome for execution. The charge would be just if he was not in reality God. How do we know he is God? He does what God alone does. The problem with God is he is not a vending machine. Put in your quarter and get your results. We have idols for that; little gods that can, in our minds, deliver! Here is an example. This week's Oro Valley Catholic podcast is about seeking the source of all things including, but not limited to, healing, seeing, hearing, rising from the dead and Eddie. You will have to listen to learn about Eddie. Fr. John
Isaiah 26:18-19 We conceived and writhed in pain, giving birth only to wind; Salvation we have not achieved for the earth, no inhabitants for the world were born. But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise! Awake and sing, you who lie in the dust! For your dew is a dew of light, and you cause the land of shades to give birth. Only God can raise the dead. Jesus raised Lazarus and the widow of Nain child from the dead and then himself rose.
Isaiah 61 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners, To announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God; To comfort all who mourn; Is. 61:1
2 Kings 2 Kings 5, there is a story of the prophet Elisha being asked to heal Naaman, who was a leper. And when the leper comes and sends a messenger to ask Elisha to heal him, Elisha says, “am I God that I could heal a man with leprosy?” (2 Kings 5:7). That is why Elisha sends Naaman to bathe in the river Jordan. Only God can heal. We encounter God when we listen to the prophets he sends.