Imagine
if you suddenly no longer had the ability to hear or the ability to
speak clearly. Yet despite this limiting handicap, you were still
expected to make a significant contribution to society. Failure to
do so will mean chastisement and separation from the rest of the
community. If we could imagine what that might be like, then we can
step into the world of the poor man who was brought before Jesus in
the Gospel today. This poor man lacks the sense of hearing and is
also described as having a speech impediment, suggesting that he
still had the ability to speak, but it was difficult to understand
him. This would have made communication with others difficult, to
say the least, and would no doubt have made him the victim of
ridicule and mockery.
I
remember participating in a seminar on group dynamics once. A group
of four of us was given a task to do as a team. We were told that we
would have to build something, but of the four of us, the first was
given an instruction sheet with a picture of what we were to make,
but he couldn’t show anyone else the picture and could not help
with making the object. He could only read the instructions and
describe what he saw. The second person was not allowed to talk, the
third couldn’t use his hands, and the forth had to keep his eyes
closed throughout the activity. Once we were assigned what we could
and could not do (I was the one who had to keep my eyes shut), the
instructions were read. We had to construct a small table out of
only computer paper and duct tape. It had to have a flat top and it
had to be tall and wide enough for the roll of duct tape to pass
between the legs. All people in the group had to participate as they
were able. I remember thinking at first that the task seemed pretty
easy, but then I quickly realized how hard it would be for me to
participate with my eyes closed. I could certainly feel my way
around to figure out what the others had done, and I would ask
questions to get feedback from those who could talk, but I was more
likely to knock things over with my hand then to be actually helping
with the goal.
One
of the other group members had a better idea for me. The roll of
duct tape was handed to me and I was told to start tearing off three
inch long strips of tape. This was pretty easy for me to do. The
one who couldn’t talk rolled some paper into tubes to make table
legs and used the tape to keep them rolled and to actually construct
the table.
We
were eventually able to finish the task. It took team work, as well
as patience with each other. We also had to be clear in our
communication. We couldn’t just say, “Hand me that thing over
there” or “Make it short, but not too long”. We had to be
specific: “Hand me the tape”, “Make the strips about 3 inches
in length.” Finally, we also had to trust each other. Any one of
us could have made doing this task more difficult or led the others
astray or start criticizing the less than perfect work we were doing,
but we trusted that we were working for a common goal.
So
what does this have to do with what is happening in the Gospel today?
Sometimes we not unlike that man in the Gospel, our own limitations
make it hard to get certain things done. Sometimes we need to trust
that others are going to help us get thing done, like I did in that
team building exercise. Sometimes the help comes from Christ, just
as it did for the man in the Gospel.
If
we look back at our first reading, we can see that the Prophet Isaiah
was already talking about how the Messiah would heal those who were
blind, deaf, lame, and mute, hundreds of years before Christ was
born. The Prophet tells us that we need not fear, for our own God is
coming with vindication and recompense to save us. He uses beautiful
imagery as he describes the eyes of the blind being opened, the ears
of the deaf able to hear, the lame leaping like a stag, and the mute
able to sing. This is a very powerful image that I’m sure stuck in
the heads of the Jewish people who learned it. When Jesus performed
the miracle in today’s Gospel, the crowd has no problem recognizing
that He is fulfilling what the Prophet Isaiah had said. We are told,
“They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all
things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” What
these readings should teach us is that Christ is meant to come and
heal and save us.
This
Gospel reading also has a very strong connection with our baptism and
our baptismal calling. The Rite of Baptism that we celebrate in the
Catholic Church has many distinct parts and various blessings within
the overall celebration. One of these blessings is called the
“Ephphetha Rite”, named after that unique word that Jesus says
during the miracle which means, “Be opened!” During an infant
baptism, the priest or deacon touch the ears and mouth of the child
with his thumb while saying, “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and
the dumb speak. May He soon touch your ears to receive His word, and
your mouth to proclaim His faith, to the praise and glory of God the
Father. Amen.” So that prayer is asking that God bless the child
so that he or she will hear the Word of God and proclaim Christ’s
faith to all people. That same prayer was said over all of us so
that we can hear and proclaim as well.
Despite
the fact that we received that blessing, many of us are still afraid
to listen to God and to help spread the faith and Good News with our
mouth. The readings today should be a reminder to all of us that we
need the blessings and the help of Christ in order to get past our
fears and be willing to do the work our Baptism sends us on. As
brothers and sisters in Christ we can also encourage each other in
this calling.
My
point is simple: we are not perfect and we have our limitations.
However, Christ is able to give us the blessings we need to fulfill
the calling He has given us from Baptism; to tell others about Him.
Let us not fear, but trust in His help.
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