Mark 7:31-37 (NRSV)
Read Mark 7:31-37 on biblegateway.com
Verse 31Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. Verse 32They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. Verse 33He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Verse 34Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." Verse 35And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Verse 36Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. Verse 37They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."
Devotion
Hearing and speech are connected, both in the man’s illness and his redemption. It seems the ears obey Jesus’ “Ephphatha”, but the tongues refuse to follow orders. His ears opened, the man’s mouth is released so zealously that his proclamation won’t be contained, not even by Jesus’ repeated injunctions against publicity. “How can I keep from singing?” asks the ballad. Indeed. Freedom is a babbling thing. It sounds like laughter. It has a way of running around like a new colt.
Paul tells us that faith comes by hearing, which is perhaps the most physical of the senses. God arrives, knocking on our tympani with words. Christian faith is spoken into our bodies. This is why we train and ordain preachers. We do this praying so that there will be at least one plainspoken witness among us from time to time. There will be one sighing and speaking so that our own ears might be opened, our tongues freed, and our fists unclenched.
Prayer
Open me up, Lord. I am shuttered, blocked, and bound. Release me into this world of wariness with the irrepressible news of your redemption. Unshackle and unstop ears, hearts, hands, and minds so that your Word might make a way where there was none before. Amen.