Homily for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
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We are given today what is known as “parallel passages” wherein a prophecy made in the Old Testament comes to pass in the life, teaching, and/or ministry of Christ.
Thus, when God the Father says, through the Prophet Isaiah: “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleansed…” we see this promise fulfilled when God the Son says, “Ephatha” … “Be opened…” and the promised miracle occurs.
Because of the faith of the deaf man’s friends, the promise, clung to in hope is now fulfilled in love. But there’s more to the story than meets the ear. So, we will look at this story first in a historical perspective, revealing something of the miraculous power of the sacraments… then in a more contemporary, even more intimate perspective, as an invitation to open-ness and conversion.
The Historical Perspective
Three elements of the story present themselves for our study:
+ location
+ the Lord’s personal response to the man
+ the words and gestures described for us
The location:
Saint Mark places this story in The Decapolis (Greek: Ten Cities)
+ across the Jordan
+ outside Jewish territory
+ so the people were pagans, or at least un-catechized Jews.
They had likely heard of Jesus, but were not among His followers. The Lord had traveled, as our present Pope enjoins us, “to the peripheries.” This, then becomes one revelation among many in the life of Christ, where He demonstrates His intention that salvation will not be limited to the Chosen People, but to all who approach the Lord in Faith.
The Lord’s personal response:
Saint Mark gives us two brief phrases that could easily be overlooked:
+ “Jesus took the man off by himself, away from the crowd.”
— and —
+ “He looked up to heaven and groaned.”
Taking the man off, away from the others shows the Lord’s intimate care for the man: not wishing to make a spectacle of him, and demonstrating that the Lord’s love for him and, therefore for us, is personal.
When the Evangelist tells us that Jesus looked up to heaven, he’s cluing us in that the Lord’s power to heal is
+ supernatural
+ coming from heaven
+ involving the Father and the Holy Spirit from who Jesus is never separated.
The “groan” which comes from the depths of His being is the reaction of His human nature being overshadowed by His divine nature.
The Lord’s words and gestures
Finally, we learn that the Lord
+ touches the man
+ speaks, not directly to the man’s frailties (remember our fellow is still deaf at this point) … but to the fullness of his personhood…
… not suggesting, but commanding that not only should the man’s mouth and ears be opened, but his heart, mind, and soul be opened to the Presence of God in Christ. By virtue of the Lord’s words and gestures, this miracle brings not only a physical healing, but a conversion of heart, because for the first time in his life, the man can hear what everyone else can hear: the Word of God in Christ.
This small scene is so important in the history of our Catholic faith that the words and gestures used by Our Lord have been incorporated into the Rite of Baptism.
Toward the end of the Rite, after:
+ the pouring of water
+ the Anointing with Chrism
+ the presentation of the Baptismal Candle
there takes place what is called the “Ephatha Prayer.” Here the priest touches the ears and the mouth of the child, saying, “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the mute speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive His word, and your mouth to proclaim His faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.”
So we see that, the Lord’s miracles were not performed only for the consolation of the recipient, nor simply for the edification of any witnesses, but that the person healed, and the witnesses might give newfound glory to God.
The Contemporary, Personal Perspective
With this historical perspective in mind, we now look at the contemporary perspective: learning what this story means for us: the Gospel in daily life.
To give hearing and speech to a man who is deaf and mute brings a healing that is more holistic than just the restoration, or institution of missing faculties. What actually happens is a transformation from alienation to relationship.
Being left out of every:
+conversation
+ instruction in the Faith
+ opportunity to praise God in spoken prayer or song
… or even …
+ to listen to a symphony
+ hear a child’s laugh
+ tell stories around a campfire…
is alienating, depleting much of the joy of life for the individual. Modern audiology can help to a certain degree, but cannot work a miracle, nor bring the Lord’s tender care to those who are suffering.
Beyond the physical and emotional healing here, the Gospel always invites us to go further: to the interior life. Here the Lord will say to each of us, “Ephatha… be opened." Here He speaks to our minds, to our hearts, and even - one could say - to our souls a word of invitation, such as: Be open to the word of the Lord in a way in which we may have never heard it before, bringing healing and new life, a deeper intimacy with Christ and new-found Grace with which to speak to the world of the graciousness, the love, and the mercy of God.
Will we stand atop a soap box on the corner of Depot and Main, shouting at passersby of the intentions of God? Probably not. But a peaceful demeanor and a joyful spirit can speak volumes to others who are deaf to the word of God. A quiet conviction can speak eloquently when called upon to defend the Faith and God’s Truth when they’re attacked, even in ordinary conversation.
The thought of a radical open-ness to the word of God and the healing power of Christ can seem a bit frightening, or even overpowering, but God informs us through the Prophet Isaiah of the ultimate reason that Christ asks us to be open: “He says to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong! Fear not! God comes with divine recompense; He comes to save you.”