Reflection From

Fr. John

September 8, 2024

In the First Reading this week, we hear from the prophet Isaiah, “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared.” (Isaiah 35:5) This prophecy, written up to 740 years before Christ, is fulfilled in this week’s Gospel passage that mentions the healing of a deaf man. Jesus doesn’t heal the deaf man in front of the crowd.

Instead, He takes the man off by himself away from the crowd. Christ doesn’t use His miraculous powers for the sake of gaining praise or attracting a following. He heals out of love for the sake of the person. He personally encounters the person and then heals them.

Christ could have healed the man without having touched him, but that is not the way in which Jesus chose to heal. Rather, He thrust his finger into the man’s ears and placed His fingers on the man’s tongue. It is through Jesus’ humanity that He heals. The Gospel mentions, “He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue.” (Mark 7:33)

A better translation for the verb “put” is “thrust”. The Greek word used is βάλλω (ballo), meaning to thrust or cast out. It is the same verb used in the account of the casting out of demons earlier in the Gospel of Mark (1:34, 39: 3:15). This indicates that Jesus may have been casting out a mute spirit from the deaf man. Jesus’ presence and mission on earth was to restore creation to its initial state, making all things new. Part of this mission included the casting out of unclean spirits. He opened the deaf man’s ears with the word, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)” (Mark 7:34) This same proclamation is used after Baptism as the minister touches the ears of the newly baptized.

The verb that Mark uses, meaning to physically touch or grasp, is used in Matthew 14:36 and Luke 6:19. It depicts how all those who came to Jesus and touched Him were healed. Jesus wanted us to touch Him and to grow close to Him. Christ still desires this. Just as He opened the ears of the deaf man, He opens our hearts and minds through the graces given to us in the Sacraments, which are physical signs of invisible grace.

Coming into physical contact with Christ, the King of Heaven and Earth, will always bring about healing for those who believe. This healing may be physical or spiritual. Jesus’ healing ministry didn’t end with His bodily Ascension into heaven. He continues to be present to us through His Sacraments. His healing touch is made present through the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. These are not just symbols or remembrances of Christ, but the Sacraments make Jesus present here and now. They are vehicles through which Jesus manifests His healing and saving power. It is not just the priest who is saying the prayers of Consecration or Absolution, but Christ Himself acting through His minister. Knowing this, let us not waste the opportunities to receive Christ’s healing touch and frequent His living presence in the Sacraments.

Father John

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