Sunday, Sept. 6, is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B).

 

Mass Readings

Isaiah 35:4-7, Psalm 146: 7-10, James 2:1-5, Mark 7:31-37

Pope Emeritus Benedict has said that one word in today’s Gospel — Ephphatha (“Be opened”) — sums up Christ’s entire mission.

He is right for a few reasons.

First of all, the Ephphatha story sums up the way God acts in our lives through the sacraments.

Jesus deals “sacramentally” with the deaf mute: He performs signs that convey what they signify. He puts his fingers in the ears of a deaf man and applies his spittle to his tongue.

Just as sacraments have “matter” and “form,” composed of real material and specific words, Jesus’ signs, accompanied by the word meaning “Be opened,” give the man the ability to hear and speak.

These signs are so powerful that they are repeated in the Rite of Baptism. The priest touches the ears and mouth of each newly baptized person, commanding him or her to hear and speak.

But all of the sacraments act this way: The priest says, “I baptize you,” applies water, and we are incorporated into God’s family. The priest says, “I absolve you,” and we are absolved. The priest says, “This is my body,” and the host becomes the Body and Blood of Christ.

The prophecy in today’s first reading, from Isaiah says, “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.”

Clearly, this is a reference to today’s Gospel. But it is also a reference to the sacraments that transform our lives.

Second, Jesus’ actions sum up what God wants from us.

It is no coincidence that he focuses on the ears and mouth.

Sin in our lives crowds God out. The more we grow accustomed to sin, the harder it is for us to hear the voice of conscience. At several points in the New Testament, he says, “Those who have ears, let them hear.” The opening that he wants from us is the ability to receive and appropriate his teachings and commands.

He also focuses on our words. In last week’s Gospel, Jesus pointed out that it is not what comes into our mouths but the blasphemy that can come out that defiles us. St. James, whose letter we have been hearing at Mass, goes so far as to say, “If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also.” He compares the tongue to a rudder, a small instrument that steers the whole ship.

St. Benedict made the virtues of listening closely and speaking carefully key virtues to the monastic life. They are also key workplace, family and social virtues.

Third, Jesus wants our hearts to be open.

This Gospel comes two days before the Sept. 8 feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

She exemplifies the virtues Jesus wants with his call to “Be opened.”

To be open to God means to be open to doing his will, to changing our plans, to be open to love and service. Mary, we are told several times, “pondered these things in her heart” when she was confronted with the mysteries of God’s action in the world. Her highest praise, from Jesus, was: “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

She is not recorded saying much in the Gospels, but the statements she made sum up the duties of Christian life: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word,” and “Do whatever he tells you.”

Great advice, if our ears — and hearts — are open to hear it.

 

Tom Hoopes is writer in residence at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas,

where he lives with April, his wife and in-house theologian and consultant, and their children.