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Exegesis
September
6, 2009
Twenty-third
Sunday of the Year (B)
Betty Jane Lillie, S.C.
Is 35:4-7a
X
Ps 146:7-10 X
Jas 2:1-5 X
Mk 7:31-37
Wonderful things occurred when the
messianic prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures were finally fulfilled in the
ministry of Jesus. Miracles were the authenticating signs of the identity
of Jesus when he did marvelous works in the midst of the people. Our Gospel
passage about Jesus’ cure of the deaf man is an example of such signs.
The implied faith of the people when
they brought the deaf man to Jesus was an important part of the event.
Jesus responded to their request by taking the man apart from the crowd and
touching his ears and his tongue. The cure has a double impact. Physically
the man gained his hearing and his speech. Symbolically it might well be
taken as an opening of his mind and heart to the word/Word of God and
willingness to proclaim the word in his own living situation.
A further possibility may be suggested here. The healing
occurred in the district of Decapolis which was a predominantly Gentile
region. If the man was in fact a Gentile, then the closeness that Jesus
created between himself and the deaf man would make it clear that the
kingdom was for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike.
After that Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone about this.
Here we have an example of what some call the Markan Secret. If Jesus came
to preach the message of salvation, why would he not want them to spread the
word? Many interpret the Markan Secret as a literary device that actually
does contribute to the advancement of the proclamation. We notice that the
text says, “The more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.”
(Mk 7:36) Isn’t that what often humanly happens when people are supposed to
keep a secret?
The words with which the cure was worked flash back to our first
reading from the Prophet Isaiah. (Is 35: 4-7a) We can zero in on the part
of the text that used messianic language to describe the well-being that was
thought to signal the saving action of the Lord for his people. All
creation would joyfully break forth in praising God for bringing about for
them his coming along the Holy Way. (Is 35:7-10)
The Isaiah text actually has reference to the returning exiles
from Babylon and the joy and gladness they experienced in getting back to
their homeland. Because of that fact many interpreters believe that our
text originally was found in the post-exilic oracles of Second Isaiah. (Is
40-55) If that is the case then it would have gotten misplaced somehow in
the final editing of the book.
Overall, the message of our readings this Sunday is
inclusiveness. All people are included in the message of salvation and
are called to be open to receiving it. In the Christian assemblies all are
to be welcomed without making distinctions on the basis of their economic
status. Today we often say that the human dignity of all people ought to be
respected regardless of any other differences. All are called potentially
to inherit the kingdom that has been promised to those who love and serve
the Lord.
As the Psalmist prays, “The Lord opens the eyes of the blind,
and lifts up those who are bowed down. The Lord loves the righteous.” (Ps
146)
© 2009
Betty Jane Lillie, S.C.
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