I was grateful to be included in an exciting conversation yesterday,via Facebook, about the pastoral issues that are raised when clergy present sermons and teaching related to healing stories in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian New Testament.

A fellow Candler alum was writing for a commentary on the Book of Isiah chapter 35. This passage beginning at verse 5 reads:

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall shout aloud; For waters will burst forth in the desert , Streams in the wilderness.

Given this pronouncement the questioner wanted to know:

I’m trying to finish up an essay on Isaiah 35 for one of the Feasting on the Word commentaries (I’m doing the pastoral perspective, as opposed to homiletical, theological, or exegetical) and am struggling over the promise that the blind will see, deaf will hear, lame will leap, mute will sing. I realize that this is a theme that echoes throughout Scripture, including with Jesus’ own life. But I am also aware of the growing understanding of people living with disabilities being differently-abled as opposed to disabled. I know that the Deaf Culture, for instance, has a strong sense of their deafness as something to be embraced, not to be fixed.

What I’m wrestling with is how big of a pastoral concern this understanding might be for a preacher dealing with Isaiah 35 (or any other healing story). I know that my own mother, who has paraplegia, would much prefer to walk - there is no question that her paralysis is something she would wish healing for. I know that her desire is not necessarily a universal desire, as the biblical writers might assume, but I am guessing that it would be the majority view.

What I’m looking for from those of you who have tagged is a couple of things:
1 - do you think it’s a valid pastoral issue when preaching healing texts, to at least consider the fact that many of those who are differently-abled are not looking to be fixed?
2 - could you point me to any resources that might explore this further? .

I am interested to know what some of you who preach and teach on these stories think?

I will leave some of my thoughts in the comments