The Gospel reading describes the story of Jesus healing a man who is deaf and mute. This miracle is only found in the Gospel of Mark. The regions mentioned by St. Mark -Tyre, Sidon, and the Decapolis – are lands belonging to the Gentiles. The Gospel also records that the people of these regions earlier asked Jesus to go away from their land (Mark 5:17). The Greek word Decapolis means “ten cities”. This was the Decapolis inhabited by Gentiles attached to the Kingdom of Israel during the time of Jesus. Three hundred years before Jesus, Alexander the Great conquered this land and imposed the Hellenistic culture on the inhabitants of this area.
When Jesus comes back to this area, the people realize that he has more power than their pagan gods. So, they now turn to the one whom they rejected before. Instead of asking him to leave their territory, the people are begging Jesus for a blessing for the man who is deaf and mute. It is possible to bring God’s blessings to a person’s life in many ways. Even the Gentiles have realized that if they take refuge in Jesus, he will not abandon them.
When Jesus heals a deaf and mute man, a prophecy of Isiah has been fulfilled. He writes: “Then the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened; Then the lame shall leap like a stag, and the mute tongue sing for joy. For waters will burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the Arabah” (Isiah 35:5-6). The presence of the Messiah will bring blessings and healing not only to the people of Israel but also to the Gentiles.
This miracle has special significance since Jesus gives personal attention to this man and takes him away from the crowd. He could have done this with one word, but to show the intensity and the importance of the action, St. Mark describes seven deeds in two sentences. He writes: “He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,’Ephphatha!’—that is, ‘Be opened!'” Unlike many other healings performed by Jesus, this man may have needed personal attention. An invisible blessing is showered on this man with a visible deed. It also reminds us of our sacramental celebration. When Jesus uses the word “Ephphatha” signifying the action, he receives the blessing indented by the word. Then it may seem ironic to the readers that the one who gave the power to speak tells him not to speak about this deed to anyone else. In this way, Jesus conveys the message that people should not approach him just for a miraculous healing.
Even though Jesus prohibited the man from speaking about this deed, he proclaims Jesus more zealously. Those who have received God’s blessings cannot remain silent about it. We also need the healing touch of Jesus in our lives to witness the wonders God has done for us. When we become the children of God we are miraculously delivered from all kinds of bondages.
My dear sisters and brothers in Christ: We can bring blessings to many people if we pray to Jesus. Like the deaf and mute man, we also need a personal touch of Jesus to hear and speak the truth in today’s world. Only God can comfort and heal us when we are wounded. Let Jesus come into our lives to transform our darkness into light and despair into hope. Then we turn to the world to alleviate the suffering of our fellow human beings by transforming ourselves into a presence of Jesus for them.
Rev. Dr. Mathew Charthakuzhiyil