As we have been hearing in the readings leading up to the ones that we find today in today's Mass, King Solomon has lost his way because we are told that his wives had enticed him to worship and bow the knee before false and non-existent gods (cf. 1 Kings 11:4–8). And so Solomon, giving in in his old age, began to be fractured and broken, and he lost his ability to remain faithful to the Lord. But his culpability is not absent. In other words, he made his own choices.
And so God, as a reflection of the sin, decides to break up the Kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 11:29–32; 12:19). So we see in today's reading the prophet Ahijah taking off his new cloak, tearing it into 12 pieces, and saying to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself” (1 Kings 11:31). “The Lord, the God of Israel, says, I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon's grasp and will give you ten of the tribes” (1 Kings 11:31). “One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant, and of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel” (1 Kings 11:32). "Israel went into rebellion against David's house to this day" (1 Kings 12:19).
So we know that this rebellion had already happened. The fracture had already happened by the time of the writing of this scripture. We're also told that God makes a choice among all the tribes of Israel to preserve David's house, even though this is the source of the sin. And to this day, you hardly hear of any of the other tribes of Israel except Jerusalem, the city of David.
And so, my brothers and sisters, how about us? Are we fractured? Do we go seeking false gods in our lives? Are we replacing our trust in material things? Or are we truly trying to trust in the Lord, who alone has control over those things which are beyond ours?
And so in today's Gospel (Mark 7:31–37), our Lord heals a deaf man who also had a speech impediment. And this deaf man came up to Jesus and he “begged him to lay his hand on him” (Mark 7:32). What does Jesus do? He takes him off by himself, away from the crowd (Mark 7:33). This is a reminder that healing, when we pray for it, and when the Lord decides to give it, often might happen in the secret of our hearts when he heals our broken spirit, even in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
And Jesus puts his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue (Mark 7:33). Then he looked up to heaven and groaned and said to him, “Ephphatha” — that is, “Be opened” (Mark 7:34). And immediately the man's ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly (Mark 7:35). Now this — what just happened?
This miracle is very sacramental, right? Jesus, who is using visible signs and gestures, and then the spoken word, brings about a new reality. This is very much what happens in the sacraments. In fact, in Baptism, the priest actually uses that word on the infant or on the adult — “Ephphatha” — so that their ears can be opened to hear the Word of God, and their tongue can be loosed to proclaim the Good News and his goodness (cf. Mark 7:34).
Jesus said there is only one thing necessary, and that is to, like Mary when he went to the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, sit with him and spend time with him, to listen to him (Luke 10:39–42). So he opens the ears — “Ephphatha” — to listen (Mark 7:34).
But as Jesus said, “If these remain silent, even the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40). My brothers and sisters, let us cry out the praises of the Lord for the goodness he has shown us, for his mercy endures forever (cf. Psalm 136:1).
And may God bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Go in peace to love, hear and proclaim the goodness of the Lord. Amen.
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