Photo credit: Bruno van de Kraan: Unsplash
“He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
In today’s Gospel Jesus heals a deaf man who suffered from a
speech impediment. Touching the man’s ears and tongue, Jesus speaks just one
word, “Ephphatha,” which means “Be
opened!” Immediately, the deaf man could hear and speak plainly. Those who
witnessed this event were so amazed they could not refrain from proclaiming the
miracle, although Jesus orders them not to.
Someone who is unable to communicate, who cannot hear or
speak, is really cut off from everyone. When you are quiet, you become
invisible, especially in our world today when social skills mean everything. Admirable
traits like honesty, integrity, kindness, or intelligence can easily be overlooked
when disabilities, anxieties, or fears prevent a person from being assertive
enough to be noticed.
Barriers like these are very hard to overcome. It’s
interesting that Jesus “looked up to heaven and groaned” before He speaks that
healing word, as if He is suffering with the deaf and mute man, perhaps knowing
how difficult his lifelong isolation and rejection has been. But with a touch,
the Lord removes this burden and gives the man a new life and a chance at happiness.
It all happened because someone cared about this lonely man
and brought him to Jesus, begging for a cure. Someone loved him - maybe his
parents, his brothers and sisters – we are not told who they are, but only that
the miracle filled them with such joy they could not keep from proclaiming
their gratitude and amazement.
Is there someone you know who is isolated, alone,
uncommunicative? Someone who finds it hard to socialize? Consider giving that
person a call, dropping by, inviting him or her to join you for a meal or
event, or to come to Mass. If they decline the first time you ask, remember that anxiety can make it difficult to respond, but everyone needs other people. So keep asking, keep reaching out. Let them know you care – and even more importantly,
let them know that Jesus cares, deeply and always, for every sorrow they have
suffered in silence.
“Here is your God… He comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the
blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like
a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.”
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