A time will come for singing
when all your tears are shed,
when sorrows chains are broken,
and broken hearts will mend.
The deaf will hear your singing
when silent tongues are freed.
The lame will join your dancing
when blind eyes learn to see.
A time will come for singing
when trees will raise their boughs,
when men lay down their armor
and hammer their swords into plows,
when beggars live as princes,
and orphans find their homes,
when prison cells are emptied
and hatred has grown old.
A time will come for singing
a hymn by hearts foretold,
that kings have sought for ages
and treasured more than gold.
Its lyrics turn to silver
when sung in harmony.
The Lord of Love
will teach us to sing its melody.
© 1977, Daniel L. Schutte. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.
“When blind eyes learn to see.” In these weeks the Gospel of Mark reveals the initial experiences of the ministry of Jesus healing those afflicted with disease and illness with no hope of any cure. In the biblical context healing was not merely a matter of curing physical illnesses, but one’s relationship with God and with the community. As we often fear what we do not understand, the sick were often segregated from family and community. The real power of the healing of Jesus is a paradigm for the healing of separation and division and reuniting ill loved ones with family and the community at large.
Christ heals our humanity, body, heart, and spirit through the charisms of religious life and the mission of families, parishes, and dioceses. Healing allows our Catholic embrace to be wide across the deep divisions that keep us distant from each other, across our cultural and faith boundaries. We are cognizant of this balm of unity in our desire to build bridges of dialogue and collaboration, to connect with people we ordinarily don’t connect with. Leaving our comfort zone behind, we begin to understand each other in a new and life giving light as an effect of this dialogue, the boundaries of our hearts transcend the limits our fear places upon it. Blind eyes learn to see.
Jesus not only confronts illness but he also confronts evil itself, the unclean spirit. The word for devil comes from the ancient Greek word, “diabolos.” It literally means to “tear apart,” according to one of its many meanings. Jesus’ curative and mending powers literally brings together what has been divided by fear and hatred. Our hearts, like our bodies, journey toward a greater wholeness through this healing.
In many ways interfaith dialogue is a way of sharing the healing power of Christ through the transformative relationships between people of different faiths and life convictions. The desire to seek common ground together helps to slowly mend relationships that were once estranged. In this age of religious extremism and violent fundamentalism this healing power of Christ is needed more than ever. The world awaits our testimony.
