Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 35:4-7a | Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 | James 2:1-5 | Mark 7:31-37

“Anyone who listens to the Word of God can and must speak and transmit it to others, to those who have never heard it, or who have forgotten it and buried under the thorny troubles and deceptions of the world” – Pope Benedict XVI

During the time of today’s Gospel story, society cast out those with any sort of physical impediment rendering them as unequal. Jesus transcends cultural and social boundaries in two ways. 

He first takes the man “off by himself away from the crowd.” The act of taking the man aside demonstrates the need for spiritual openness. Many times we are too busy, indifferent, closed-off, and we cannot hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. We surround ourselves with too many distractions that can lead to a spiritual deafness. The Lord removes the man from the crowd, showing through example the need to step away from the noise of everyday life that hinders us from hearing the Word of God. 

Secondly, “He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue;” and said “‘Ephphatha!’— that is, ‘Be opened!’” This command signifies both a physical healing and a spiritual awakening to God’s word. Jesus had performed previous miracles where his mere words were enough to heal. But, here, we see His intentionality in intimacy. He displays his desire to draw close to us in our weaknesses. Jesus is not deterred by our faults. 

This encapsulates the kerygma (the proclamation of the faith) message: that Jesus has come to heal, restore, and redeem, allowing us to be opened and hear the Word of God which awakens us to new life in Christ.

What are some habits that we have on a daily basis that keep us from hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd?

How might the Lord be calling us to remove ourselves from the crowd to better hear his voice (e.g. spend time in silence, go on a silent retreat, take a walk outside)?