Daily Retreat 09/06/09
2009 Sep 6 SUN:TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Is 35:4-7a/ Ps 145(146):7. 8-9. 9-10 (1b)/ Jas 2:1-5/ Mk 7:31-37
From today’s readings: “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.... The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.... Show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.... Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis....”
Leaving nobody out
Since I live in the small town of Mt. Angel Oregon, when people inquire where I live, when I give the answer, the one asking will frequently give a blank stare, so as not to be so rude to directly inquire “Where in the world is Mt. Angel? Why would anyone go there?”
Some places mentioned in Scripture are equally obscure. Not many people could point out “district of the Decapolis” on a map of the holy land. This was a league of 10 rather insignificant non-Jewish cities in eastern Palestine. Not much reason for anyone to go there! Since Jesus generally confined His mission to the Jews (e.g., Matt 10:6, Mark 7:27), His brief excursions into pagan territory are remarkable. What did He do there, and why?
The healing of the deaf/mute man is one of the few actions of Jesus recorded on this trip. In literal fulfillment of Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy mentioned in the first reading, Jesus makes the deaf hear and the mute speak. While the pagan onlookers are not so dense that they miss the miracle in their midst, being ignorant of Isaiah’s prophecy, they are likewise ignorant of the significance of its fulfillment. Their astonishment and their praise (“He has done all things well!”) are ultimately too tame of a reaction - no mention of a single person being moved to conversion and full discipleship!
Yet that doesn’t mean we can conclude that Christ’s actions were superfluous or pointless - rather, His presence among pagan peoples was personally purposeful and poignantly prophetic. Purposeful, because He brought the comfort of His presence (which caused the tongue of the mute to sing!) and thus already He was certainly sowing the seeds of stirring to faith among the Gentiles (the fruition of His work would be seen after Pentecost); prophetic, because His actions were meant to be reflected upon and interpreted in their fullest intent, viz., if even the pagan peasants of the Decapolis were open to the blessings of Christ’s presence, then surely no one is meant to be excluded from the Messianic joy of the Gospel!
St. James develops this theme: when we give warm welcomes only to the wealthy, we’re wallowing in worldliness! But if we deliberately share our Christian faith and love with the oppressed, the hungry, the captives, the blind, the stranger, those who are bowed down, the fatherless and the widow (leaving no one out!), then we’re doing things God’s way (as is also extolled in the Psalm)!
As surprising as it may be, Christ comes to our own insignificant towns today, and again His presence is personally purposeful and poignantly prophetic. Since we’re no longer ignorant of the significance of His fulfillment of Messianic prophecy, it would be too tame of a reaction for us to merely nod knowingly and say smugly of our Savior “He has done all things well!” Rather, His command shatters the deafening silence of our complacency, pealing out to you and to me, “Ephphatha!”– “Be opened!” Let our ears and hearts be opened then to the Good News Christ set out to bring us this day - let our tongues sing His Gospel, and let no one be left out!
Is 35:4-7a/ Ps 145(146):7. 8-9. 9-10 (1b)/ Jas 2:1-5/ Mk 7:31-37
From today’s readings: “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.... The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.... Show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.... Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis....”
Leaving nobody out
Since I live in the small town of Mt. Angel Oregon, when people inquire where I live, when I give the answer, the one asking will frequently give a blank stare, so as not to be so rude to directly inquire “Where in the world is Mt. Angel? Why would anyone go there?”
Some places mentioned in Scripture are equally obscure. Not many people could point out “district of the Decapolis” on a map of the holy land. This was a league of 10 rather insignificant non-Jewish cities in eastern Palestine. Not much reason for anyone to go there! Since Jesus generally confined His mission to the Jews (e.g., Matt 10:6, Mark 7:27), His brief excursions into pagan territory are remarkable. What did He do there, and why?
The healing of the deaf/mute man is one of the few actions of Jesus recorded on this trip. In literal fulfillment of Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy mentioned in the first reading, Jesus makes the deaf hear and the mute speak. While the pagan onlookers are not so dense that they miss the miracle in their midst, being ignorant of Isaiah’s prophecy, they are likewise ignorant of the significance of its fulfillment. Their astonishment and their praise (“He has done all things well!”) are ultimately too tame of a reaction - no mention of a single person being moved to conversion and full discipleship!
Yet that doesn’t mean we can conclude that Christ’s actions were superfluous or pointless - rather, His presence among pagan peoples was personally purposeful and poignantly prophetic. Purposeful, because He brought the comfort of His presence (which caused the tongue of the mute to sing!) and thus already He was certainly sowing the seeds of stirring to faith among the Gentiles (the fruition of His work would be seen after Pentecost); prophetic, because His actions were meant to be reflected upon and interpreted in their fullest intent, viz., if even the pagan peasants of the Decapolis were open to the blessings of Christ’s presence, then surely no one is meant to be excluded from the Messianic joy of the Gospel!
St. James develops this theme: when we give warm welcomes only to the wealthy, we’re wallowing in worldliness! But if we deliberately share our Christian faith and love with the oppressed, the hungry, the captives, the blind, the stranger, those who are bowed down, the fatherless and the widow (leaving no one out!), then we’re doing things God’s way (as is also extolled in the Psalm)!
As surprising as it may be, Christ comes to our own insignificant towns today, and again His presence is personally purposeful and poignantly prophetic. Since we’re no longer ignorant of the significance of His fulfillment of Messianic prophecy, it would be too tame of a reaction for us to merely nod knowingly and say smugly of our Savior “He has done all things well!” Rather, His command shatters the deafening silence of our complacency, pealing out to you and to me, “Ephphatha!”– “Be opened!” Let our ears and hearts be opened then to the Good News Christ set out to bring us this day - let our tongues sing His Gospel, and let no one be left out!
posted by FrPitstick | 9/03/2009
<< Home