22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings:
Isaiah 35:4-7
James 2:1-5
Mark 7:31-37
Reflection:
Isaiah shares through his words the power and presence that we can expect to come from Jesus. He will remind people to have faith, believe in God and therefore ‘do not be afraid’ ‘have courage’. These are elements that are needed to live the Christian life. Ho0w will this be played out? The eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf also unsealed in other words God will act in a way we do not expect and so will Jesus.
This is played out in today’s gospel with the healing of the deaf man – using his finger he presses the man’s ears and then puts spittle on his tongue and then the call of ‘Ephphatha ‘– ‘be opened’. Then, he told them not to tell anyone. What a way to start the ball rolling.
The gospel is not for the faint hearted and it calls us on to be mindful of how God walks among us. Jesus epitomises the heart of God. One who seeks us out with compassion and care. He is not concerned with showmanship or externals showing what a good catholic I am rather how am I as a neighbour? as a friend? as a community person? Yes, he wants us to be people of justice, mercy and service seeking out those who are lost, lonely, put down or ostracised.
He wants us to follow as people of compassion showing and being the beating heart of God. This relates to Passionist spirituality – “while the Jews demand miracles and the Greek’s wisdom; here are we preaching a crucified Christ”. Here our call is to be for others and living with the passion as the heart of who we are – focussed on Jesus and ever mindful of how God centred this is and how it shows the theme of Emmanuel – God with us!
Paul Traynor is married to Clare and has two children Sam and Lucy. He lives in Greytown which is in the Wairarapa Region on the North Island of New Zealand. Paul is currently working as the National Passionist Family Groups Coordinator for Aotearoa, New Zealand.