Cycle B - Year II:  

9 September 2018: Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 35:4-7a

Second Reading:   James 2:1-5

Gospel:Please Read  Mark 7:31-37

Healing the whole person, body and soul!

Recently the Catholic Church is the favorite punching bag by top government officials. Often it is accused of meddling in secular affairs not only by politicians affected by its moral teachings, especially on corruption and sanctity of life, but also by certain groups who disagree totally with its preaching. But the Church must make its voice heard when humanity is in peril. It has the duty and obligation to speak out because the Church cares for every human being, body and soul.

Now the Church gets its authority directly from God. Because God wants the restoration of the whole person, not just the salvation of the soul. This is clear in the example of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. His public ministry was not just preaching the Good News but life witnessing through healing of the sick and attending to the poor and neglected of society. Recall that Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, made the lame walk, the deaf hear and the mute speak. He even brought back to life Lazarus and the daughter of a government official.

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus cures a deaf-mute who was brought before Him. People wanted Jesus to place His hands on the man. But our Lord did more. He leads the man aside from the crowd, puts His finger into the man's ears and touches his tongue, looking up to heaven in prayer. Jesus sighed deeply and said: "Ephphatha!" that means, "Be opened!"   And at that very moment the man;s ears were opened and at once the impediment of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly.  Thus, our Lord demonstrated both the beauty and the goodness of God in this healing.

Some religious writers and theologians attribute a deeper meaning to the healing of the deaf-mute man. Notice that it happened in a Gentile territory, which Jesus often visited in His ministry. It also involved a foreigner, a pagan, who is looked down upon by the Jews. Its significance is to highlight the universality of God's gift. It means Jesus came to save all, with no exception.

What lesson do we learn from this healing event by our Lord Jesus? Well, Jesus heals the sick and disabled so that people can praise the heavenly Father and the Son. Our Lord's example should inspire us to also care for the sick and needy in our midst with Christian charity and love. We are God's caring heart and healing hands when we minister to their needs.

But also the miracle of the healing of the deaf-mute is very significant spiritually, since many human beings in our times suffer spiritual deafness when we reject God's voice, and suffer spiritual muteness when we don't want to speak to Jesus in prayers and meditation, or in defense of Church's teaching when it is unjustly criticized and attacked.

We also suffer from spiritual deafness and muteness when we do not care for the needy of our society, and when we don't react before the divine greatness by expressing our thanksgiving, fidelity and praise for the gift of life we enjoy up to this very moment.

And lastly, despite the fact that a great number of people are neglected in the world today who need care and help, let us pray for a greater number of generous and caring people who are dedicated to the poor and the sick. This is a gift from God, both for them and the people the care and help.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!