Hierodeacon Rafael Misiaoulis, Theologian
And the crowds marveled, saying, ‘Never was anything like this seen in Israel’ (Matth.. 9, 33).
In today’s Gospel reading, mention is made of two miracles performed by Our Lord Jesus Christ. One is the cure of the two blind men and the other the release of a deaf and dumb man possessed by a demon which was tormenting him and causing his ailment.
Christ performed these miracles in order to demonstrate and emphasize to people that He is the Messiah, the Redeemer of the world, Whom they had been expecting. The miracles were features of His messianic capacity. And the reason He performed them was His infinite mercy and empathy towards us, His most perfect creation. First He made an effort to cure the soul of the sick person and then the body.
As the Lord was leaving the house of Jairus, a leading citizen whose daughter He had raised, He was headed towards another house when two blind men approached Him beseeching Him to have mercy on…