Open our ears and eyes Lord that we may hear and see
Saturday 4th September 2021
Have you ever spent time in the company of people who are deaf and dumb? Even if you haven’t, have you realised how precious are the gifts of speech and hearing? Unlike us, they are cut off completely from the world of sound and have no experience of the conversation of friends, laughter, and the joy of listening to music. While our sympathy and pity are with the man in today’s gospel (Mark 7:31-37), nevertheless we regard him as one of the lucky ones to have met Jesus who cured him. Jesus gave him a break in life and made him like the rest of us. Interestingly we take for granted our ability to hear and speak but both gifts are meant for a purpose greater than human communication. They are also our means of listening to God and speaking his word. This is something we should never forget. Whatever we hear and what we say determine to a great extent what we do and they make us the persons we are.
This is an occasion to express our concern and care for those who live lonely lives on the margins of society because of hearing and speech handicap. More so in our current situation due to the pandemic. The man resembles the whole human race. His plight is ours like those times we refuse to listen to what God is saying to us and act upon it. We all need the healing hand of Christ to make us hear and speak the message of God properly. Is it possible that we are like this man because of our refusal to give a listening ear to the lonely, the troubled, and the worried? How many times have we failed to utter a word of encouragement, of hope and thanks, or have kept a cautious silence when we should have spoken the truth? Then there are the problems we have in speaking to those dear to us or neighbours because of a long standing row or simply because of envy, jealousy or pride. What Jesus is saying is that the greatest tragedy of all is not to be born deaf and dumb but to have ears and fail to hear, and to have tongues and fail to speak. We need to be brought to Jesus for His healing touch which brings encouragement where there is despair, communication where there are silences, and companionship where there is loneliness.
Stay well and healthy.
God bless you all.
Fr. Arsenio