Readings: Isaiah 35:4-7, Ps. 146:7-10, James 2:1-5, Mark 7:31-37
“They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” (Mark 7:32-34)
Once upon a time, I went to visit a man who was very sick in his house to pray with him and give him Holy Communion. This man was visually impaired and lived in an uncompleted building. On this particular day, I sat down to discuss it with him, and he said: “I wish God gave you the power to heal. I am sure you would have cured me by now.” In response, I said: “If only you know the power in the Holy Communion that you have just received, you would have asked Jesus to cure you.”
Do we Catholics value what we have? How many of us believe in the healing power of the sacraments? Let us now consider the lessons in today’s readings.
1. God Always Rewards Our Faith
In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said: “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” Only when we believe can we be sure to receive what we are asking for. There were millions of sick persons in Israel at the time of Jesus, but only those who went to him in faith, expecting to be healed, got healed.
When Jesus went to his hometown, Nazareth, his people looked down on him, just as many Catholics look down on the sacraments today. We are told that Jesus “COULD DO NO MIGHTY WORK there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them” (Mark 6:5).
Each time we attend the Sacraments, Jesus asks the question He asked the two blind men following him in Matthew 9:27-30, “Do you believe that I can do this?” If you believe Jesus can do it, you will receive your miracle. However, if you do not believe, you are no different from the people of Jesus’ hometown.
2. Jesus Instituted the Sacraments as Channels of Healing
What is a sacrament? The penny catechism says: “A sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace ordained by Jesus through which grace is given to our souls.” In today’s Gospel passage, did you notice the outward signs? The placing of fingers in his ears, the saliva, the touching of the man’s tongue, and the looking up to heaven? Do you also notice the inward grace? What words did Jesus use, such as ‘EPHPHATHA’? Do you realize that this is what we do during baptism?
When did you last attend the mass and meditate on every word? Does it occur to you that the priest acts IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST? Do we have the faith to look beyond the person we know and see Christ Himself performing these sacraments? Hear me: before you think of traveling to one campground or another, know that the Jesus you are looking for is here. There is no sickness, no disease, no family problem, and no financial condition that is beyond the power of Jesus.
Take the Priest as you would take Christ; believe that Christ acting in the priest can heal you when he performs the anointing of the sick. Believe that your sins are truly forgiven when Christ in the priest hears your confession. Believe that your marriage will last forever when Christ in the priest blesses you on your wedding day. Believe that you become a soldier when Christ in the priest (or bishop) anoints you with chrism oil. God has given us the power to heal, but do you believe this?
3. Why We Shouldn’t Announce Miracles
Every time Jesus healed someone or performed a great act of wonder, he always warned the person involved or the people around against publicity. While Jesus wanted the people to spread the Gospel freely to the ends of the earth, he cautioned them to maintain sealed lips regarding the miracles he performed. Why? Jesus wanted faith in him to be built not on miracles but on the Cross of Calvary. Hence, he said: “When I am lifted from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:32). By televising and announcing miracles and testimonies rather than God’s Words, we risk attracting people to ourselves to Christ, in whose person we function.
4. The Sacraments are to serve both the Rich and the Poor
This is where our second reading today comes in. St. James condemns a practice that has refused to stop in the church. “My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘Have a seat here, please,’ while you say to the poor man, ‘Stand there,’ or, ‘Sit at my feet.’ Have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4).
We are all guilty of showing partiality, and we must repent of it. Whether rich or poor, everyone in the congregation can receive the Sacraments and sit wherever they wish.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, deepen our faith in the healing power of the sacrament and free us from discrimination. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Isaiah 35:4-7, Ps. 146:7-10, James 2:1-5, Mark 7:31-37).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu