when was the last time you brought someone to Jesus? - 23rd sunday B
First the deaf-mute was brought to Jesus. He was brought, he was led, he was presented to Jesus by some people. The deaf-mute may not have known what is happening. He may not have heard about Jesus. Remember he is deaf. He does not know that Jesus is a miracle worker, that he can heal the sick and drive out demons. But when Jesus was passing by, people got hold of his hand, led him and presented him to Jesus, and begged Jesus saying – this man is deaf and mute, please heal him. Then they simply faded away after silently fulfilling their role of presenting somebody in need to Jesus.
When was the last time we took someone’s hand and brought him to Jesus? When was the last time we led somebody closer to Jesus?
The Religious of Mary Immaculate at the back of SM Jaro have training facilities for Kasambahays or House helps and out of school youths. They offer the Alternative learning System or ALS for those who have not finished their high school education, they train for caregiving, tailoring and even simple accounting, mathematics, writing, English (I know because seminarians go there to tutor on mathematics, writing and English). As a religious institution the highlight of course is its spiritual formation. And so on Sundays you can see people come there bringing with them their helpers to the center so that they can be educated, so that their skills developed and be formed spiritually. Today’s gospel is a reminder for us - when was the last time you brought somebody closer to Jesus?
Second lesson. This is one miracle that comes with a lot of theatrics on the part of Jesus. When the deaf-mute was brought to him, Jesus took him aside so that he can be by themselves, so that he can meet him personally. Then he put his fingers into the man’s ears, then he spit, and with his fingers touched the man’s tongue, then looking up to heaven, he groaned, then he shouted “Ephphratha!”
Why so many theatrics whereas in other healings he just says, be healed, or at the very least lay his hands on the sick? Why the theatrics? Because Jesus was trying to make himself understandable to the deaf-mute. He was communicating to the deaf mute in a way that the deaf can understand. Jesus wants him to feel the care of God for him by his gestures, by touching those parts which were thought of as cursed, touching and thus opening his ears so that he can hear, touching and thus freeing his tongue so that he could speak. These small gestures spoke to the man more eloquently than a thousand words.
Gestures communicate. Gestures, though small and insignificant, can speak profoundly of love, concern, kindness, affection. A touch, a nod, a smile can do wonders. Jesus used not just words but gestures to communicate to the person in need the concern and the love of God, bringing healing and wholeness to the person. And so must we for as Pope Francis said: Small gestures of love, of tenderness, of care, make people feel that the Lord is with us.
Comments