22nd Sunday In Ordinary Time 

Deuteronomy 4:1-2,​6-8
Psalm 14(15):2-5
James 1:17-18,​21-22,​27
Mark 7:1-8,​14-15,​21-23

GOD IS THE SOURCE OF BLESSINGS AND MIRACLES

Today’s gospel recounts one of the incredible healing miracles performed by our Blessed Lord. In this powerful display of divine intervention, Jesus heals a man who is both deaf and unable to speak, restoring both his hearing and speech. The account is full of fascinating details, including the fact that the man is brought to Jesus in public by his friends, but Our Lord takes him aside and heals him in private.

This miracle is not brought about by a simple command, but through a series of sacramental actions. Christ opens the man’s ears, loosens his tongue, and then instructs the man and his friends to keep the miracle a secret. How mysterious and awe-inspiring!

But what is the significance of these miracles for us? The gospel writers documented these miracles to demonstrate the connection between our human response to God, which we call faith, and the superior spiritual power of God, which can conquer the forces of evil.

Our faith in Jesus as the Son of God, not just the Son of Man, is crucial. We must recognize the power of God behind the miracles of Jesus and have faith in Him as the true God and true man.

The people witnessing this miraculous healing express their admiration and astonishment, but they fail to comprehend the full import of the miracle. As a result, Jesus gives strict instructions for everyone to keep silent about it.

We can begin to understand the link between the people’s lack of faith and Jesus’ decision to act. Later in the gospels, we learn that Jesus could not perform mighty works in a certain place due to the people’s unbelief.

The purpose of these miracles becomes clear as we continue to explore the gospels. There is an essential unity between Jesus’ person and His proclamation of the Kingdom of God, and the miracles serve a didactic role as powerful demonstrations of His teaching. Unfortunately, the people often misunderstood the purpose of these miracles, much like they misunderstood His identity as the Messiah.

There is an inseparable unity between what Jesus taught and what He did. When His teaching is rejected, miracles are withdrawn. It becomes evident that those who do not respond to His teaching cannot partake in salvation. The miracles are not mere inducements into the kingdom; they can only be rightly received in the context of faith.

Ultimately, the gospel miracles present a challenge to all of us, asking how we respond to Christ, His mighty works, His sublime teaching, and His divinity. The miracles serve as a direct challenge to our faith and demand a decision – will we accept Him as our Saviour or reject Him?

HAPPY NEW MONTH

Fr Joseph Osho