Understanding Miracles Today Through the Synoptics
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Date
2000-02
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
Stand up and go on your way" (Lk17:19), said Jesus to the man he healed
from leprosy. And of course the man stood up and went his way. He was healed!
Understanding the miracles of Jesus in his time was easily possible. Not only because
they occurred as clear events in the people's eyes, but also because they came from
Jesus who, before and after the resurrection, was already recognized by the disciples as
a special man, the Messiah, the Son of God. Of course, there were some who did not
want to believe because of lack of faith or because of their own reasons like the
Pharisees (Lk 11:54). Miracles have even been understood by some observers as the
work of the devil (Mk 3:22), but the final statement in the end was, "He really was the
Son of God" (Mt 27: 54).
After Jesus, miracles continued to happen and today we still talk about miracles
being performed. Even though many challenges appear against the possibility of
miracles, yet believing and understanding the reality of miracles is possible today and,
for this to happen, it requires first of all faith.
This study aims at highlighting and drawing out an understanding of the
phenomenon of miracles in our Catholic faith, under the guidance of the synoptics, the
transmission of authority by Jesus to the believers, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
First I will focus on the presentation of miracles in the synoptics in terms of
ordinary, exegetical and theological definition of miracles, the purpose of working
miracles, and the impact of miracles on people's lives. Then this will serve as a pillar to
explain the understanding of miracles today and to face the challenges against their possibility and the importance of miracles with hope of success in the Church's
mission. This essay is constituted of four main parts: Miracles in Mark's Gospel,
Miracles in Matthew's Gospel, Miracles in Luke's Gospel, and Miracles Today.
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Keywords
Synoptics, Miracles, purpose of miracles, Challenges against miracles