(Source: Holy Land Magazine, Jerusalem, Spring 1997)
When in 1994 I was sent to work in our Franciscan church at Cana in Galilee where Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding feast (see John 2), I noticed a young man in the church who seemed to be handicapped in one arm. I discovered from the Pastor of the church, Fr. Jack Karam, that his name was Saher Dbayat, aged 23 and that he had a serious car accident in 1992 which paralyzed his left hand (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) and his shoulder. Saher had undergone three major operations at the famous Rambam Hospital in Haifa but to no avail. So he could not get a normal job and used to hang about the street aimlessly. Though this was a grievous blow to Saher, he always remained a humble man with a good sense of humour and was very popular in the village. But things were beginning to happen that would eventually lead to his being dramatically healed.
FR. EMILIO TARDIFF
First, the new Pastor, Fr. Jack, born in nearby
Nazareth, began showing videos of the great healing ministry of a Canadian priest
Fr. Emilio Tardiff. The latter had just finished a healing ministry in Lebanon
at the request of the Church there and Christians as well as some Moslems were
healed. Fr. Jack showed a video of this to his youth club and then on request
at nearly every Catholic home in the village including Saher's. This helped to
build people's faith in Jesus who still works miracles like the first one He performed
in their home village nearly 2000 years ago.
FRANCISCAN YOUTH MARCH
Secondly, there was the 1995 annual Franciscan Youth
March begun by Fr. Jack that helped to build the faith of the participants.
Saher was encouraged to go, though at first reluctant, because he was unable to
dress himself or tie his own shoelaces. But he went because his friend, Jiheed,
promised to assist him when needed. After six days of prayer and meditation at
the holy sites in the Nazareth area, there was to be a final open air Mass at
the top of Mount Tabor where tradition believes our Saviour was transfigured. In
the rest period after lunch, during the hottest part of the day, remote preparations
were made for the concluding Mass to be held that evening. Some young women
from Cana had made a beautiful cross from green sticks to bring forward at the offertory
procession. Others prepared a prayer to be read aloud as gifts were being brought.
It was a very moving prayer pleading that the precious blood of Jesus which fell
from the cross would heal all those in the community who were in pain or
sorrow.
ANGELIC INTERLUDE
During the rest period, Saher pondered on his birthday
the next day; while Jiheed, to his astonishment, was convinced he had seen
three angels. He went to tell Saher about it and also promised him he would
pray for him at the Eucharist, if Saher In return would pray for his father who
was suffering from an injury to his hand. The time of rest and meditation came
to an end as people began assembling for open air Mass with breath-taking views
of Galilee far below in the plains. From this high viewpoint, places associated
with the healing ministry of Jesus could clearly be icon in the distance -- a
good place for the drama that was now about to unfold.
HEALING MASS
The Mass began in the usual way with selected readings
from the Bible followed by an homily. Then the offertory procession began with
the youth carrying bread and wine and the green wooden cross. The healing
prayer was read aloud and when Saher heard this he was very moved. He looked at
the wooden cross now at the altar and to his astonishment an intense beam of light
seemed to come from it directed at him. He clearly heard a voice saying to him:
"Give me your hand, I want to heal you. Saher began to tremble and felt
weak. Then he heard again: "Do not be afraid, for I am the Lord, and today
I want to heal you." Saher was confused and struggled to reach Jiheed nearby
to explain what was going on. At that moment to his amazement, his left arm I raised
itself and his hand opened fully! Seeing this Jiheed blurted out "Abuna
Jacko Abuna Jack!" (that is, Father Jacko Father Jack!). A Franciscan
Sister went to check what was happening and saw Saher weeping in amazement and
joy as he gazed at his flow fully opened hand. Then Saher fainted At this point
the Sister went to the microphone to announce that Saher's hand had opened
miraculously. Those who knew him well had tears of joy in their eyes and some,
in the midst of the confusion, began to intone a song of praise to God while a
University student from Malta, Carl Tabone, looked on in amazement
MUSLIM REACTION
When Saher returned home to Cana, the news got around
fast and his Moslem friends and neighbors all came to see the miracle for
themselves and shared in Saher's joy. He was so well known in Cana as the man
with the withered arm, but now he was vigorously shaking hands and slapping
people on the back with his once debilitated hand!
Back at the church I was told about the miracle by Fr.
Jack on his return from Mount Tabor but I, Thomas-like, decided to wait and see
for myself. I had seen people in the heat of emotion or enthusiasm seemingly
get healed, only later to be greatly disappointed.
THANKSGIVING
The next morning Saher's parents, dressed in their
Sunday best, came with great reverence to the church associated with the first
miracle of Jesus, to give Him thanks. Saher, who was with them, privately burst
into the sacristy where l was working and came over, Blinding widely, to pump
my hand with a vigorous grip. And then, A Mass of thanksgiving was later
arranged by the pastor, to which the church was filled to the doors with the
joyful and the curious. Another miracle at Canal
MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
Saher decided to visit all his doctors in Galilee who
had treated him at one time or another so that they could share his joy. One of
the first was a kind, Orthodox Jewish doctor in a big hospital who knew Saher
wetland had a good joking relationship with him. He was so astonished that he
called in some of the other staff to see the wonder for themselves. He even
quipped to Saher that perhaps vacating the hospital of patients and sending
them all to the top of Mount Tabor would see them also healed! Saher was too
courteous to say it wasn't the place that mattered but the living Christ who
was present in a powerful way during the Eucharistl
On the 27th of August, 1995, Saher visited the Rambam
Medical Center in Haifa. He was fully examined and the doctor issued the
report: "Saher's hand is in a very good condition and responds to
stimulation. According to the findings, there is a full recovery from his
condition that existed earlier, that is, reflex sympathetic dystrophy." I
saw Saher six months later working at a building site in Tiberias and involved
in hard physical labor with his arm still miraculously healed. Praise the Lord!
(Holy Land, Vol. XVII no. 1 – Spring 1996)
