Commentary on the Gospel of
Throughout the Gospels we read about people coming to Jesus from all over, even finding him when he traveled or when he was trying to get away to pray. The people of Jesus’ time went to him to hear his preaching and to experience the healing that he brought to those who were ill or possessed.
Like them we too come to Jesus, though in most cases we are not expecting to witness a miracle. But we are hoping for something even more profound. As the Letter to the Hebrews says, “he is able to save, for all time, those who approach God through him.” We come to Jesus seeking salvation. We trust that he will meet our physical needs, but we also pray that he will bring us forgiveness, hope, healing, and holiness. In fact, only Jesus can give us those gifts in a lasting way. As Saint Augustine wrote, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in [him].” And so, like the people of Jesus’ time, we come to him, hoping to be healed.
