Here again we have the Messianic message of Mark through Jesus’ Miracles. The Jews are taught well how to recognize the Messiah when he comes. It is by making the dumb speak, the blind see, the lame walk, and the dead raised back to life. The people were impressed that Jesus had done well. This means that Jesus up to that point fits the description of a Messiah.
Unfortunately even seeing the miracles the people did not easily believed in him because he has other strange teachings like love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, always forgive those who hurt you, help the stranger, do not judge as in the case of the woman caught in adultery etc. If he had not said this they would have followed him right away. According to them a society could not exist if it is managed according to his teachings. Last Sunday we heard how they preferred to follow the laws that do not disturb the routine of lives. Besides, their idea of the Messiah is to throw out the Roman invaders and establish once more the rule of David in the land. As a nation they are ashamed of their history of being conquered by so many unbelieving nations. It seems to contradict God’s promise of the eternal kingdom of David.
What is outstanding with Jesus when he meets the crowd is his compassion. They are not simply a mass but individual children of His father. He had compassion on the deaf-mute. He takes him aside so as not to embarrass him. People look down upon such unfortunates as sinful people hence their maladys. Christ’s communication begins with feeling, the sensation of the sick which is still intact. The deaf-mute feels that he is taken seriously, that he is a person, not just a case. Pharisees and scribes simply approve whether the healing is genuine as in the case of ten lepers. Jesus puts his fingers into the man’s ear, on his finger he touches the man’s tongue. What looks superstitious or for us today unhygenic, attributing healing power from spittle, is in reality a fine adaptation to people. The faith of the deaf-mute is stimulated and so when Jesus says Ephatha be opened he opens wide his heart in faith and thus he is healed spiritually and bodily. Jesus always cures the whole person.
Jesus looks up to heaven to communicate with His Father and by healing the man, he too now communicates with God in thanksgiving. Now, after many years of silence, he can speak about the wonders of the Lord, now he can explain to others what he himself experiences; now he can praise the Lord. Why is it that we who hear and speak seldom speak and communicate the wonders the Lord has done for us. This miracle was representatively done for many other people. What is mankind without Christ! Jesus knew that the Father had sent him to the lost sheep of Israel and he first sent his disciples only to Israel. Mark shows a little of this humankind without the Lord. Humankind without Christ cannot hear and cannot speak as the deaf-mute of today’s Gospel makes clear. Only if Christ opens our ears, can we hear what God tells us in his creation and can we talk about the marvelous deeds he has done. A world without Christ will not inspire others in the world to care as much for the sick. It is Christianity who has given the value that every person has a dignity and there to be treated equally with love. There are Christians who may not follow this commandment of love but Chrstianity has this message for all humankind. God has given us ears to be able to listen to His word, to his Son. True listening will result in praising the Lord. Listening would be like Jesus who listens to his father constantly. He does what the Father wills him to do and all He does is for the sake of all humankind. And what is true in our relationship with God should also be true in our relationship with others. As the Trinity eternally communicates, and we listen, we are all brought in the Divine Life. That is the Christian destiny.
The healing of the deaf and mute is also our story. There is hardly any organ in our dealing with God stressed so much as our ear. We shall hear, not so much see or speak. God has given us two ears but only one mouth. Since God is creator and giver of all things any dialogue between God and us can start only with hearing on our side. And first we have to listen as if we had nothing else to do but to listen. Only then we are good listeners. True listening will result in praising the Lord, in prayer. If we do not manage a good prayer, it’s probably because we do not listen enough. But the praising and acknowledgment of the wonders of the Lord, of all good things he does for us, there has to be a good ear. And what is true of our relations with God is also true of our relations with people. First we must listen, although most of us are inclined to speak right away trying to hide our insecurity and little knowledge of life and reality. Only reverent listening to others results in fine communication and dialogue for it is the Holy Spirit we are hearing from others.