If you are interested in maps like me, then you might be curious to learn the distances that Jesus and his disciples walked between the cities mentioned in the Gospel today. The cities of Tyre and Sidon are on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and are about 20 miles apart. The distance from Sidon to the Sea of Galilee is approximately 50 miles. Finally, to walk from the Sea of Galilee to Gerasa, the capitol of the Decapolis or “Ten Cities,” is another 37 miles. A journey of this length might have taken several weeks, which would have allowed Jesus the time to reveal to his disciples the extraordinary news of God’s love and closeness. After all, Jesus’ first message after his baptism in the Jordan River was: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) 

As we have learned from earlier passages of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus was forced to stay outside in uninhabited areas because the people he healed, like the leper mentioned in Mark 1:40-45, spread the work of his miraculous powers abroad. We should not be surprised, however, that people learned of his presence and interceded for their friends and family members. Friends of the man who was deaf brought him to Jesus for healing. Similar to the man lowered on a mat from the roof to Jesus feet in Capernaum, Jesus saw their faith and could not refuse their sincere request. 

Of the many types of prayer that we can practice, prayer of petition is the one prayer that God cannot refuse. Jesus tells us to seek, ask, knock (cf. Mt. 7:7). God is not deaf. And we do not change God’s mind by our asking. We need to ask because we need to realize that we are dependent upon God. God is in control; we are not. In any prayer we say, God takes the initiative - God begins the prayer in us. In reaching out to God, we are only following what the Holy Spirit has inspired within us. God wants to answer our prayers, especially when we are interceding for others. 

This is good news, as there are so many needs in our world today that cry out for our intercession. We should never hesitate to bring these requests to God. Our prayers are powerful because God is powerful. Whenever we pray, we are saying: “I believe. I have faith. I have a relationship with God.” So, the lesson for us as we continue our day is to keep praying. Be persistent in prayer. “Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened for you.” (Cf. Mt. 7:7-8) 

Blessings,

Fr. Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R.