In today's first reading from Isaiah 35:4-7a, God, speaking though Isaiah, proclaims that He is coming to save us. And, Isaiah tells us, when God does come extraordinary things will happen, "then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing" (Isaiah 35:5-6). This is fantastic news. The event will be so phenomenal that "the desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom" (Isaiah 35:1).
It is ironic that when Jesus arrives in our world and when he performs healing miracles, he often tells people not to talk about it. In today's gospel, Mark 7:31-37, Jesus heals a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. He touches the man's ears and tongue and says "’Ephphatha!' — that is, 'Be opened!' — And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly" (Mark 7:34-35). Jesus ordered everyone present "not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it" (Mark 7:36).
It seems to me that it would be impossible for the healed man and his friends not to talk about what happened. Not only did Jesus give the man the gifts of hearing and speech, he gave him the gift of community, he freed the man from isolation, he gave him a new life and he gave him the opportunity to be an active participant in the Kingdom of God. This is staggering. If I was that man, I would be shouting from the rooftops, "Look at what Jesus has done me!"
God our Father,
you wait for us to be open to you, to people,
and to all that is true, beautiful and good.
Let your Spirit open our ears
to the liberating Word of your Son.
Let him open our hearts and hands
to everyone who needs us.
Let him open our lips,
that we may proclaim everywhere
the marvels you do for us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
