MARK 7:31-37: GOD'S COMPASSION THROUGH FAITH AND HEALING

31 Returning from the territory of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon towards the Lake of Galilee, right through the Decapolis territory.

32 And they brought him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they asked him to lay his hand on him.

33 He took him aside to be by themselves, away from the crowd, put his fingers into the man's ears and touched his tongue with spittle.

34 Then looking up to heaven he sighed; and he said to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be opened.'

35 And his ears were opened, and at once the impediment of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly.

36 And Jesus ordered them to tell no one about it, but the more he insisted, the more widely they proclaimed it.

37 Their admiration was unbounded, and they said, 'Everything he does is good, he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.'

(end of gospel reading)

THE SERMON

Dear friends, today we find ourselves in a profound moment within the Gospel of Mark, a moment that invites us to reflect on the depth of Jesus' compassion and the transformative power of faith. In this passage, we witness a remarkable healing: a deaf man with a speech impediment is brought to Jesus, and through a series of tender, intimate gestures, he is restored to wholeness.

As Jesus travels from Tyre through Sidon into the Decapolis, we see that no physical landscape can hinder God's desire to help others. The deaf man's healing reveals that, regardless of who we are, or our life circumstances, God's love and healing are always within reach. His love knows no bounds.

When Jesus heals the deaf man, He first takes him aside, away from the crowd. This act of separation speaks volumes about the personal nature of His ministry. Jesus meets us where we are, understanding our individual struggles and our silent cries for help.

In our lives, how often do we feel unheard or misunderstood? The man’s condition symbolizes more than just physical deafness; it resonates with our deeper human experience of feeling disconnected, from each other and from God. Jesus’ journey to him serves as a powerful reminder that He is always moving toward those in need, always seeking to draw us closer to Him, no matter our situation.

Before healing the man, Jesus sighs, a sigh that carries the weight of our collective pain. This sigh reminds us that He is not indifferent to our suffering. It reveals His empathy and His profound understanding of our struggles and pain. In our prayers, do we share in that sigh too, lamenting the injustices, the pain, and the silence that surround us? Jesus calls us to be vessels of His love, to bear that burden and bring forth healing in our relationships and communities.

When Jesus speaks the word “Ephphatha,” meaning “Be opened,” He addresses more than the man's physical ears and tongue. He invites him, and us, to openness in every aspect of our lives. To be opened is to be receptive to God’s grace, to the healing of our hearts.

In our spiritual journeys, how often do we close ourselves off from the truth? How often do fears, prejudices, or past hurts mute our voices? Jesus invites us to open our ears to His Word and our tongues to proclaim His goodness. This openness is not solely about receiving; it is also about sharing the message of hope and love with those around us.

Despite Jesus’ instruction to keep the healing quiet, the people cannot contain their amazement. Their praise, “Everything He does is good!”, is a testament to the infectious nature of joy and gratitude. When we experience true transformation, how can we help but share that with others? Our stories of healing and grace have the power to inspire and uplift those around us.

Eventually, this Gospel teaches us to be open to God’s healing power and to have faith in Him so we can be receptive to Him and his power and share this power and goodness to others. We are called to embody the love, care, and compassion of Jesus in our interactions with those in need, to be His hands and feet in healing the world.

May we, like the crowd, boldly proclaim, “Everything He does is good!” Let us therefore open our hearts and minds, ready to experience His transformative love and proclaim it to the world.