Parable 27 - Wonders

The good news was that there was a 70 percent five-year survival rate. The bad news was, of course, that the cancer had spread to Ted’s bone, and it was the high-grade type, which meant “aggressively dangerous.” Ted’s wife was deceased, and they never had children.

Andrea showed up one day. She was Ted’s niece, and a deeply devout Christian.

Ted welcomed her with open arms and appreciated the sacrifice Andrea was making to help her uncle.

Andrea moved in with Ted, at least for the time being, to assist him in whatever he needed.

Andrea prayed over Ted one night, and both of them felt an energy of healing.

For Ted it was a calming presence that left him hopeful. He also experienced a lessening of the pain in his right leg, which was swollen and tender.

For Andrea the conclusion of the prayer felt like a confirmation of God’s promise to answer prayers wherever two are present in Jesus’s name. Andrea was sure Ted was cured, and she could hardly wait for the doctors to recognize this at the next appointment when they did blood work.

Two weeks later they sat together waiting in the office for the oncologist to explain the latest findings.

When the door opened, the doctor’s face was glum yet compassionate. She explained that there was little more they could do to stop the cancer. It was continuing to spread to other parts of the body. She said that Ted had between three and six months to live.

Andrea was crestfallen. She was expecting a miracle and instead received a death sentence for her uncle.

Ted was not shocked. He had already sensed that he was dying. He felt bad for his niece, but Ted’s spirits were unshaken. He felt strangely free.

At home Andrea said, “It’s not fair. You shouldn’t be dying.”

Ted responded, “It’s all part of life.”

“But we both felt our prayer had been answered. I was sure your cancer was cured.”

“Well,” said Ted, “maybe I was cured in another way. I feel that my heartache, my loneliness, and my self-doubt… they have all been healed.”

Meditation

Ted and Andrea’s story is being played out a million times throughout this year. What we pray for, hope for, and trust in is ever present in our relationship with God. Just in case it’s not clear to you, we don’t get to decide who lives and dies. Great medical advances have helped to save lives that once would have been lost. And medical science will continue to evolve and save more people, but death will still have its way. None of us will escape it.

In today’s gospel there is a royal official who experiences Jesus saving his son. Jesus says to the man and those listening that they only believe because of signs and wonders.

You see, in those last four months of Ted’s life, Andrea witnessed what it is to be brave amid great suffering.

Somehow her uncle had a joyful attitude right up to the end.

He never let his sickness take away the gratitude he had for his niece.

Andrea was given, in a sense, a new life because of her uncle—a new perspective of joy and how to endure hardship.

We want our prayers to turn out the way we hope they will turn out. A challenge for us is to believe even when things don’t go as we have planned.

Just ask Andrea and Ted. Death may be here to stay, but wonders will never cease.

Water the seed and ask yourself...

What have I learned when my prayers were not answered in the way I had hoped for?