Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B 2009

September 6th 2009

Dear All, In this weeks Gospel according to Mark, Jesus is wandering on the fringes of Palestine, in the land to the north. In this story he is avoiding the hostility of his adversaries and instructing his followers who are travelling with him, free from the crowds during his teachings in Galilee. The miracle is relatively simple and straightforward. He took the deaf man with a speech impediment aside from the multitude and in a personal encounter with the Messiah privately said Be opened and his ears opened, his tongue was released and he went on to speak plainly. The miracle story is not only the recording of an actual incident in Jesus life, but also aimed at those members of the community (maybe even us today) having difficulties in hearing Jesus. So much noise in our lives, and not only in the sense of sound. There is noise in the sense of disturbance, like static on the phone line. In addition to all the audio noises, like TV, radio, the kids, the neighbors, cars, etc. there is also noise in turmoil in our lives created by our continual worrying about tomorrow and maybe the hanging on to the battle stories of the past. As Jesus called the man away from the crowd, so he is calling us away from the noises of our life to his quiet. A little quiet in our homes, a few minutes before the morning gets going, or after the kids are in bed just a little time to get away from the noise. Jesus touched the mans ear and he said Be opened. Like in the baptismal ritual the celebrant touches the mouth and ear of the newly baptized repeating the blessing from the Gospel, Be opened. When we hear the still, small voice Elijah heard in the cave, whispering that God loves us. Or we may hear Marys voice at the wedding feast of Cana reas-

suring the wine stewards and us, Do whatever he tells you. Marks repeated theme is that Jesus did indeed do signs and wonders, but refused demands for spectacular signs, because he was not merely a wonder worker, but a prophet, a prophet who opens the hearts of all, as the First Reading from Isaiah suggests. Jesus makes real Isaiahs prophecy from 800 years before, saying to those (us?) whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes to save you when the ears of the deaf will be cleared and the tongue of the mute will sing. Jesus makes this prophecy a reality for those that walked the earth with him and for us two thousand years later. The Second Reading from the Letter of James is a first century invitation to avoid discrimination. To stay away from becoming judges of others and making distinction among rich and poor. God has indeed chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith. Mother Teresa of Calcutta a very prominent example of the twentieth century, being present to the poorest in their weakest hour. The complete text of the readings at http://scriptures-my-journey-oflifeandfaith.blogspot.com/2009/08/twenty-third-sundayin-ordinary-time.html With Gods Love and Blessings,

Rainer

Rainer Zinn - 2009

http://faithjourney.info

http://myjourneyoflifeandfaith.blogspot.com/

First Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah Is 35:4-7a Thus says the LORD: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. 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. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water.

Second Reading from the Letter of James Jas 2:1-5 My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, Sit here, please, while you say to the poor one, Stand there, or Sit at my feet, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

Gospel according to Mark Mk 7:31-37 Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the mans ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, Ephphatha! that is, Be opened! And immediately the mans ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.

Rainer Zinn - 2009

http://faithjourney.info

http://myjourneyoflifeandfaith.blogspot.com/