We, the Deaf and Mute

Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37

Today's encounter between Jesus and the deaf man with a speech impediment is like many other healing stories.  Jesus heals the man of his infirmity and then orders everyone not to speak about it to anyone.  This encounter today, however, comes with a touch of irony.  Consider: a man unable to hear or speak has as the first thing he hears a command not to speak about this event in his life.  

But it was not just the man who received this command.  Everyone else in the crowd was also given this instruction, and all failed to heed it.  Would it have been better for the man to remain as he was and to not have these abilities?  Not at all.  The point is that we human beings have these abilities as gifts of God and we have a corresponding responsibility to use these abilities with wisdom and not for our own foolish pursuits of pride.  

Even more deeply, silence that is a matter of our choice comes with it the ability to encounter the Lord, to hear what the Lord has to say to us in our lives.  In so doing we gain even greater control and power over these gifts given to us by God, we gain greater wisdom that leads us to greater closeness and union with God who is our greatest good.