Reading
Mark 7:31-37
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Meditation
The healing of the deaf-mute in the Decapolis region prefigures the conversion of the pagan world to the gospel. In it the words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled: "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert." (Is 35:5-6).
The itinerary of Jesus, who from Tire passes through Sidon in the north, and then heads south-east towards the Sea of Galilee, describes the extension of salvation beyond the borders of Israel. The deaf-mute himself, the protagonist of this page of the Gospel of Mark, seems to embody the deafness of the pagans to revelation, which is overcome by the encounter with Christ.
One cannot learn to speak if one cannot hear; likewise is the ability to listen to God - "Listen, Israel!" (Dt 6:4) - which enables him to make his word present in the world. In front of a sick person who cannot understand verbal language, Jesus acts with gestures and signs, establishing direct, physical contact with him.
The Aramaic word effatà, which Mark translates as "be open", is a command addressed by Jesus not only to the ears and mouth of the deaf-mute but is addressed to his whole person, who opens himself to understanding and to the gift of grace.
Jesus utters an imperative word, addressing the sick person directly and not interceding with God. His authority comes from his divine nature. The witnesses of the miracle performed by Jesus become heralds of his saving mission; this is the meaning of the Greek term ekérisson, "they keep talking about it" (v. 36).
Faith enables us to welcome the word of the Lord, to praise him with our lips, and to preach the gospel of salvation. "He has done all things well" (v. 37) affirm the crowds about Jesus; and these words echo those of Genesis: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Gn 1:31).
Christ, the Logos, through whom the Father created man, is the one who restores his original image and health. His grace will give us what our nature lacks, allowing us to offer God a perfect and pleasing sacrifice.
Prayer
O God, fill what we lack to open us to the relationship with you and with our neighbor. We will sing your praises and announce your salvation. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
