WHEN GOD DOESN’T HEAL OR RESTORE INSTANTLY… WHY?
First Reading: Genesis 8:6-13,20-22
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 115(116):12-15,18-19
Gospel: Mark 8:22-26
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Many expect God’s intervention to be immediate, whether in healing, restoration, or deliverance. When prayers seem unanswered or change comes gradually, faith is often tested. Yet, Scripture reveals that divine action is sometimes progressive, unfolding in stages rather than happening all at once. This pattern raises deeper theological questions: Why does God sometimes delay healing or restoration? Is it a sign of His weakness, or is there something profound in the process itself? In Jewish thought, this gradual process is deeply embedded in their understanding of divine action. The concept of tikkun olam (תִּקּוּן עוֹלָם), meaning “repairing the world,” speaks to the idea that God’s restoration often happens through human participation over time. The Hebrew word for healing, רָפָא (rapha), appears frequently in the Old Testament, often connected to progressive restoration rather than immediate miracles. In Exodus 15:26, God declares, “I am the Lord who heals you” (אֲנִי יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ), but this promise is tied to obedience and a process of renewal. The Jewish people, through exile and return, understood that God’s redemption unfolds across generations rather than in a single moment. This brings us to the theme of gradual restoration as we see in today’s readings.
Beginning with the first reading from Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22, where Noah seeks confirmation that the floodwaters had subsided. He does not receive an immediate answer. Instead, he releases a raven and then a dove, waiting patiently between each attempt. The raven does not return, offering no clarity. The dove initially comes back, indicating the land is not yet dry. The second time, it returns with an olive leaf, a sign of hope, but still, Noah waits. Only on the third attempt does the dove not return, signalling that the earth is ready for habitation. This gradual revelation of dry land mirrors the blind man’s healing in today’s gospel reading; it is not instantaneous but requires discernment, patience, and trust.
Needless to say, the miracle of the blind man in today’s gospel reading (Mark 8:22-26) is strikingly unique in the Gospels because Jesus heals him in two stages. At first, the man begins to see but perceives people as walking trees, his vision is blurred and incomplete. Only after Jesus lays hands on him a second time does he see clearly. The Greek term ἀναβλέπω (anablepō) is used when Jesus asks the blind man, “Can you see anything?” (Mark 8:23). This verb, meaning “to regain sight” or “to look up,” suggests a process rather than an instant occurrence. The man’s first response, “seeing people like trees,” indicates that healing is underway but not yet complete. This is theologically significant because it reveals the nature of faith and spiritual understanding. Just as physical sight can be restored in stages, so too does spiritual insight often come gradually. Even the disciples, who had been following Jesus, struggled to see clearly who He was. Immediately before this healing, Jesus rebukes them for their lack of understanding: “Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?” (Mark 8:17-18). In other words, this gradual healing is symbolic of how God often works, not only in individual lives but in the general scope of salvation history. It reflects the progressive unfolding of divine revelation, much like how God’s covenant was revealed step by step from Abraham to Moses, through the prophets, and ultimately in Christ.
This sequence is no accident. The blind man’s healing serves as a parable for the disciples’ own spiritual blindness. They believe in Jesus, but their understanding is still incomplete, just like the man who initially sees only in vague outlines. Peter’s confession of Christ immediately follows this miracle (Mark 8:27-30), but even then, his understanding is flawed. When Jesus predicts His Passion, Peter rebukes Him, unable to grasp the necessity of suffering. Like the blind man, Peter sees, but not clearly; his faith needs a second touch. Theologically, this speaks to the way God forms His people through a process rather than an immediate transformation. This is evident throughout Scripture. Abraham received God’s promise, but it took years before Isaac was born. The Israelites were freed from Egypt, but their journey to the Promised Land was long and arduous. Even the coming of the Messiah was progressive, prophesied through centuries before being fulfilled in Christ. The Book of Revelation presents the ultimate fulfilment of God’s plan, but even there, it unfolds through visions and stages before the final restoration of all things.
In today’s world, this principle challenges modern expectations of instant results. In a culture of immediacy, where answers, healing, and success are expected on demand, God’s way often feels slow. People pray for miracles but become discouraged when they do not see immediate changes. However, both the Gospel and the first reading show that God’s ways are higher than ours. The waiting period is not an absence of action but an essential part of faith formation. Just as Noah waited between each release of the dove, and just as the blind man experienced healing in stages, believers today are called to trust the process of divine restoration.
Dear friends in Christ, this applies to multiple areas of life: Faith is often tested through periods of dryness where God seems silent, yet those are the times when trust deepens. Some miracles happen instantly, but others unfold over time – physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Like Noah waiting for confirmation from the dove, many seek clarity from God but must learn patience in the process. The world’s brokenness is not fixed overnight, but through persistent acts of faith and justice, we participate in God’s ongoing work. Above all, when God does not heal or restore instantly, it is not a sign of weakness but a sign of wisdom. The gradual process is meant to strengthen faith, deepen trust, and refine understanding. Just as Noah had to wait and just as the blind man needed a second touch, so too must believers recognize that God’s timing is perfect, even when it does not tally with human expectations.
O that today you would listen to his VOICE, harden not your hearts! (Ps. 95:7)
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Shalom!
© Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Seminário Padre Pedro Magnone, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
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Have you prayed your rosary today?
Great teaching. Deep insight
On point Padre. Thanks so much
Great Explanation. Thank you Father.