Doing All Things Well

Twenty-third Sunday of the Year. Fr Andrew Brookes preaches on the healing of the deaf and dumb man.

What is happening in this Gospel scene? Jesus can heal at a word and yet here he is touching ears, and using spittle on tongues and demonstrably sighing. The outcome is that he creates a very favourable impression. ‘He does all things well!’, they exclaim, and, despite his command, they broadcast the miracle around the neighbourhood. But why all the extras?

When we focus on the details that the evangelist provides and look at the scene humanly and with an attitude of care, we see that Jesus is showing great sensitivity to the deaf and dumb man, and drawing him consciously into the process of his own healing.

Quite likely the man is largely in the dark as to what is happening and what his family of friends hope for. Indeed, we don’t know how well they generally communicate with him, given his problems. He may largely be mute because he is deaf and not been able to learn to speak as he has never heard language, and so lost in a world of silence with a profound lack of communication of meaningful contact and interaction. He may not know much at all about Jesus and his healing power. He may well be confused, and may well additionally be anxious of fearful. ‘Who is this stranger? What will he do to me?’

Jesus focuses on the man. Indeed, he begins by taking him away from the crowd, intending to avoid a public spectacle. He creates a private and personal encounter for this man, affirming him as valuable in himself. Jesus then meets him and communicates with him on the man’s own terms. He uses sign language in various ways to indicate the healing process that will follow. Putting his fingers into his ears indicates the intention to generate his power of hearing. Spittle was widely considered to help the processes of healing, so touching his tongue with spittle indicated the possibility of restoring or creating his power of speech.

As well as indicating his intention to heal, and likely stirring a desire for healing in the man, these actions may well stimulate faith in Jesus too. In several instances, Jesus, just prior to healing someone, points to or stirs up faith. The actions that follow definitely add to that dimension. Jesus in a clear, and perhaps exaggerated, way, looks to Heaven, to God. The action of sighing or breathing out is also likely a sign. It is through the Spirit of God that Jesus works his miracles. ‘Spirit’ literally means breath or wind, and Jesus likely indicates that the Spirit of God is about to act upon this man by clearly sighing or breathing out – breathing upon him, in effect.

It is only after all this, when all that is to happen has been indicated as well as its source in God in heaven, and power in the Holy Spirit, that Jesus says to the man, and now also for the benefit of his family or friends, ‘Ephphatha!’, ‘be opened!’ The healing happens at once. The man not only hears, but speech is restored or given at once too, making this a double healing. Set free from his bondage and isolation, he is a new creation, with new possibilities in life.

This episode is recorded to speak to each of us and help heal and improve each of us, both personally and in how we relate to others. God wishes to act in the life of each of us, no matter how close to him or far from him we perceive ourselves to be, no matter how well or badly we think we hear him at present and speak of him. You may be physically deaf and or mute – absolutely or relatively, or lack good communications skills more generally, or the inclination to communicate. God may act to help heal you, physically or socially. But, for certain, God wants to open our spiritual ears to help us hear him, and hear him speak the general truths of Revelation but also in a uniquely personal way to each of us, and to bring us into communication with him in prayer. Some of us may well be sceptical about God speaking to us, especially personally, and need special assurance and signs, like the deaf mute, of the love of God before our inner ears can be opened. And, we all need inner healing so we can hear God better – so let us ask Jesus for it.

And looking outward, we need healing to help us speak publicly, to give public witness, to sharing with others what God has said to us (generally or personally), that Jesus does all things well, and to invite others to come to him so they too can hear him and learn to speak with him and then of him. we need help to speak boldly, but humbly, and with sensitivity and appropriateness to each audience.

In our relations and communications with others, we can each learn from Jesus’s approach here. Each person matters, and the way we relate to each person ought to be a bit different, to be attentive and specific, to be truly loving. The second reading touches on this theme too. We should not judge superficially and not act for social advancement. We should aim and try to see all as important, as made in the image of God. We should listen and hear their own stories. In these ways, we are more likely help them appropriately, or if we can’t, to point them towards appropriate help.

In all these ways, the personal approach and targeted love of Jesus, which affirms and heals us spiritually, socially and sometimes physically, helps us love God and love each other in response. In receiving this healing love of Jesus and imitating his love, both of which he does truly well, we too can do all things well.

Readings: Isaiah 35:4-7 | James 2:1-5 | Mark 7:31-37