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In Biblical studies, when Jesus tells the poor cripple, “Do not tell anyone about this,” it is referred to as the Messianic Secret. Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah, but He wishes to keep it a secret. Why?
There are two methods of handling good, thrilling news. The first method is immediate; as soon as you hear it, you call up your friend to share the news. If you don’t have a telephone, you’ll race to your neighbor, and with breathless eagerness, spill the exciting news. Or perhaps, if you receive the good news in a public place, you might start hugging everyone in sight, overwhelmed by your happiness.
The second method of handling good news involves keeping it close to your heart. Every action you take, every little word you utter becomes a manifestation, an expression of the good news in your heart. Observing you, people might wonder, “Why are you so happy? Why are you glowing?” Yet you keep the answer a secret, because the source of your radiance is the beauty, the treasure that now resides deep in your heart.
The Lord instructed the leper to remain silent about the miracle He had performed, not because He didn’t want anyone to know, but because He was inviting the leper to cherish the miracle in the quietness of his heart.
That’s why the leper wasn’t supposed to tell anyone. It wasn’t to be selfish or to deprive others of the good they could receive. It was rather an invitation to the leper to “keep it quiet, reflect more on what has happened to you, pray about it more, and I promise you, it will become even more beautiful. You will find that the treasure is immeasurable. You will realize that the generous gift given to you is priceless.”
Whenever Jesus arrived–and every time He comes to us, His intention isn’t merely to make us happy or to banish all our illnesses. Sickness and problems will always exist, but Jesus Christ invites us to be healed from within.
Today, I invite you to recall the little miracles that you have received from the Lord; the seemingly nondescript miracles that people often overlook. But these are miracles that you know and understand. I encourage you to refresh your heart in silence, to renew your heart, to ignite your heart with love once more. For in remembering, you will relive the miracle.
Have you become too noisy? Too preoccupied? Let the words of the Lord to the leper be ours as well. “See that you tell no one about it. Then, treasure everything I told you in the memory of your heart. And you will see that the treasure will never run dry.”
GOLDEN SILENCE
Mk 11:40-45
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