Remember the story in Mark's gospel, 7:31-37, of Jesus curing the man who was deaf and had a speech impediment? The people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the deaf man they brought to be cured. When we hear the story we know the man will be cured and be able to hear and speak after this encounter. What really holds our attention is the way Jesus brings it about.

Jesus creates a ritual for the occasion, physical actions and words to accompany the miracle. First he puts his fingers in the man's ears, ears which cannot hear. Next he uses his spit, thought by that culture to have medicinal powers, and touches the man's speechless tongue. Finally, Jesus looks up to heaven and prays, "Be Opened!" (Ephphatha) Now the man can hear! Now the man can speak!

Today in our sacred actions, the Church also uses words, actions and symbols. Water is poured at Baptism while the words are spoken. While the result is not something visible as in the gospel story, the result is just as real and even greater than overcoming deafness. Grace is received, the person becomes a child of God, sin is removed, a fresh newness replaces whatever impediments were there. The importance of visible signs, of ritual actions in all the sacraments can never be over stressed. We were created as physical beings with senses to be used in important ways. Furthermore, just as the deaf man was no longer alone and isolated in his silence and separation, in our celebration of the sacraments we are reminded that we too, are not alone. And, we are not just reminded, for through the sacraments we actually become part of the community of the faithful.

To what might we be deaf and need to have our ears opened by the Word of God today? Is it respect for the poor or giving voice to those who cannot speak for themselves? Perhaps we have been deaf or blind to the richness in our liturgy, to the great celebration of our Eucharist. Do we just attend Mass or do we participate as fully as we can, joining our hearts and minds and voices with others in the community? If our own ears are opened and our tongue is freed by the gospel message, we will be more able to go through our week witnessing its message to those we catechize and those we encounter in our work and play.

Jean Marie Hiesberger