23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME B
DEAF AND MUTE NO MORE
MK 7: 31-37
MESSAGE
The Gospel today presents a condition of deafness and muteness that are natural disabilities. These are total and congenital impairments, and so, they are irremediable in ancient times. Only in God’s hands through the Lord Jesus’ miraculous intervention that these situations could be healed. Today however, we continue to experience deafness and muteness in people’s lives, maybe even in our own lives, too. But modern deafness and muteness are no longer congenital but acquired from the environment… no longer total but selective…
We are deaf to people around us but we can hear every sound issuing from our gadgets. We are mute to those near to us but we can communicate eloquently with online “friends” whom we have never even met personally or contacted physically.
More than at any time in history, we need to see the reason why listening to each other is still important and why speaking words of wisdom and compassion is still necessary for people to live in unity and peace. We need to speak with clarity, confidence, honesty, and trust to those around us so that we can understand one another. We need to listen even to those whose words we do not want to hear, so that we can learn from others and be guided by them. Relationships in families, among friends and in communities suffer when people stubbornly refuse to let go of their acquired and selective deafness and muteness. It is time to let the Lord Jesus release us from this bondage.
REFLECT
May it be opened! – Let this be our prayer this week to the Lord. May our ears be open to hear his Word in the Scriptures, in the church, and through people who care about us. May our mouth be open to speak without fear and shame of the compassion and concern we have for others who need our love. Lord Jesus, heal our modern deafness and muteness!
