Michael Deacy was famous for giving away much money to the poor over fifty years as a priest. Any tale would touch him. He was the easiest mark in Manhattan. He had holes in his pockets. You always needed his money more. Jesus for him was the inhale and giving the exhale. Mike was Jesus’ kind of guy. Are we? Today’s miracle occurred on a Saturday. Since Jesus was a Jew, He had spent the whole morning in the synagogue at worship. Do you worship weekly? If no, Christ says to you, “Gimmeabreak.” The miracle site was Caphernaum. It is near the Lake of Galilee.
The ruins still exist. You may walk among them and imagine the house where Christ slept and ate. The Teacher loved Caphernaum more than Nazareth. One should not be surprised. His home boys tried to kill Him. Neighbors like those no one needs. Since Caphernaum was Peter’s hometown, he wisely invited his new Employer home for brunch – Bloody Marys, ziti, fresh lobster a la Caphernaum, etc. “Some of Christ’s closest moments with His disciples were spent over food.” (AU) Incidentally, one suspects Peter’s house was a welcoming home. Is ours?
Even before the Master finishes His cappucino, cheeky Peter presents the bill. “My mother-in-law is ill.” This was the first time in the five thousand years of recorded history that a son-in-law wished his wife’s mother long life. And Jesus was the first to quip, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” Notice Peter had no hesitation in asking Jesus for a cure. He knew He was an easy mark. Why then do we drag our feet in bringing our needs to the Christ? The sickness was probably malaria. The Gospel speaks of a fever. Caphernaum was near swamps. Mosquitoes flying into town for a meal carried the virus as so much extra baggage. The Nazarene put down His cup and went over to the hammock. The rest is history. The cure was immediate. The woman leaped out of the hammock like a young girl. She served the dessert – creamy cheese cake and freshly brewed cappucino.
She was the first mother-in-law in history who felt she owed her son-in-law something. Never would she say, “Behind every successful husband stands a surprised mother-in-law.” If bad new travels fast, so also happily does good. Mark sums up the case succinctly, “The whole town came crowding round the door.” The cool-hand Jesus moved among them and cured their sick. The Teacher was big at touching people, especially the ill. Mark’s word picture allows us to see the running sores, smell the foul odors of the ill, and hear their horrible groans. This was a scene made for the genius of Rembrandt. His sick are painted in dark colors and Jesus the barefoot physician is bathed in bright light. Check his famous 100 Guilders sketch. Jesus got to bed late. He had to be exhausted. To catch a breeze He slept on Peter’s roof covered with makeshift mosquito netting.
As He fell asleep, He wondered why He and the Father had created bothersome mosquitoes in the first place. Sunday AM mobs were all over Peter’s freshly sown lawn. His wife’s roses were history. The crowd wanted more miracles. But the Master had left before dawn. He was not into show business. In the divine economy, the cures of yesterday were not to be repeated the next day for reasons best known to Himself. Prodded by his mother-in-law, Peter formed a posse and gave chase. They found Him in a lonely place praying. Somebody has said, “Through prayer Jesus gained what people sought from Him.” Should we pray more? Peter rudely shouted, “Everybody is looking for you.
Time Magazine wants to make you Man of the Year. 60 Minutes called. The New York Times wants to interview you.” But such was not His plan. Like Robert Frost, Christ had miles to go and promises to keep before He would sleep. He got off His knees, brushed the grass from that famous seamless garment, and moved out to the next town. Peter followed. There are lessons one can draw from this account. Perhaps the paramount one is the willingness of the Christ to give to the needy.
Father Michael Deacy was an authentic imitator. Will anyone say that of us? Deacy had learned well the insight of CH Lorimar. “It’s good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good to check up once in awhile and make sure you haven’t lost the things money can’t buy.”