FACETIME OR “FACE TIME”?
Isaiah 35:4-7a; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37
The great paradox of our time is that we live in an age of social communication, but we rarely communicate; we FaceTime with people, but seldom spend “face time” with them. We encounter (or create) several barriers to communication.
Jesus faced similar communication barriers in his ministry.
We are almost mid-way through Mark’s portrayal of Jesus. Throughout his ministry, Jesus has been pleading with people to listen to his word. They do not: the disciples cannot understand his teachings, the crowds want wonders, his own people do not accept him, the religious leaders see him as a threat. Mark presents group after group with its spiritual blocks.
Then, Mark presents a man “who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech.” He wants to but cannot communicate. Jesus takes him aside, away from the crowd, and spends time with him; he communicates with him through touch, a language he could understand. Jesus gives him back his ability to communicate: he can hear and he proclaims about Jesus.
This miracle is more than just a healing story.
First, there is a parallel between the deaf-mute and Jesus’ disciples. The man could neither hear nor speak; he needed healing. The disciples could not understand Jesus’ message, and therefore could not proclaim it; they, too, needed healing.
Second, the healing indicates that the Messianic age has dawned. It fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah to the exiles, which we heard in the first reading.
What are the communication barriers we face?
In a communication-filled age, we lack the ability to communicate! We have the faculties and the means to communicate but little communication; we have hundreds of social-network friends but very few real-life friends; we are experts in virtual communication but failures in personal communication and communion.
We need to be healed of our spiritual deafness and spiritual speech impediments. Will I allow the Lord to take me aside from the multitude to touch me? Will I move away from the crowds (of people and gadgets) to spend time with my loved ones, and communicate in a language they understand?
May the Lord touch us and restore our ability to communicate. May we disconnect from the virtual world – at least sometimes – to connect with people and reality around us.
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