One of the themes of contemporary movies, TV, books and video games is the superhero. Whatever problem is happening the superhero intervenes and makes it all better. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus was not a superhero in that sense. Though others tried to make him one, he consistently shifted the focus of attention. The blind men in St. Matthew’s gospel apparently thought that Jesus could throw the divine thunderbolt and fix them. But notice the conversation he has with them: “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” Jesus wants them to become aware not of his power but of their faith. They should not imagine he was waving a magic wand. Instead he was enabling their faith as the locus of healing. In our lives as well, God does not intervene out of the blue but instead relies on our trust and confidence in God’s presence in our lives to bring about healing and wholeness.
