Proper 18, Year B Proverbs 22:1-2,8-9,22-23 September 6, 2009
James 2:1-10, 11-13,14-17
Hearing Anew Mark 7:24-37
Twice this summer, I had the breath-takingly joyful experience
of being right there in the delivery room as my grandchild was
being birthed into the world. I was there to hear the first cry
as arms and legs propelled the air. After some time being snuggled
and fed, the new baby was cleaned up and examined. Following
the exam, someone tested the hearing of the newborn. Once again
I was struck with the advances in neonatal care since my babies
were born.
In the Gospel lesson, we read about two healings; one was
the daughter of a foreign woman whom Jesus should not have even
spoken to. The other was a man who had problems with his hearing
and speech. It is so likely that had the man been born in Hartford
Hospital where my grandson was, that his hearing deficit could
have been diagnosed at birth. Imagine the suffering that would
have been eliminated from his life. It would be like the words
from Isaiah coming true, words that say: "the ears of the
deaf will be unstopped and the tongue of the speechless will
sing for joy." These would be signs of God's presence in
the world and Jesus demonstrated God's presence through his healing
acts.
Jesus cured the physical problems of those he encountered
but always to a greater end. He was about restoring people to
wholeness, something that's greater than a cure. Because of his
deafness the man in Galilee was isolated and thus he was ritually
impure. Illness or a condition considered out of the range of
normal as that culture defined it, were suspected to have moral
causes. We consider this rather primitive thinking until we recall
people not too long ago were saying that the devastating illness
AIDS is a punishment for immoral behavior. In restoring the deaf
man's hearing and speech, Jesus restored him to community, an
act that declares him sin free. Now he is free to hear physically
and being declared free from sin and judgment, the man, no longer
deaf is able to hear even the whisper of God's Spirit.
How is our hearing? Some have difficulty admitting when our physical
hearing declines and we have to seek help. I remember my dad
being reluctant to wear hearing aids until he realized that he
was cut off from conversation and the nuances of speech that
communicate the fine points of humor or satire. He was one however
who never needed spiritual hearing aids even when he needed them
for his physical hearing. How is our hearing? Are we able to
hear God forgiving us and including us in the community of God's
beloved ones? Can we hear God urging us to love our neighbor
as ourselves, meaning we need to love ourselves. Can we hear
God urge us to take better care of ourselves? We all have to
ask if our hearing needs to be improved. Where do we seem to
have a hearing loss? In the realm of the spiritual or physical
or both? Can we hear the voice of a family member who is in need
but feeling angry or cut off, unable to speak the truth about
his or her pain. Perhaps we haven't really listened to the voice
of a relative or friend who is looking for the way home. Do we
hear the lonely and isolated neighbors of our community? If you
are a member of Vestry or the Search Committee, how is your spiritual
hearing? Much spiritual listening is ahead of you. Hearing loss
creeps up on one, little by little.
Today allow yourself to be the deaf person presented to Jesus.
Imagine seeing him but not hearing his voice clearly as you realize
that the voices of others have been indistinct and vague for
a while. Jesus takes you aside and gives you time. He is not
afraid to come close to you and to touch your ears as he says,
"Be Opened."
The moment will actually come in this service when Jesus WILL
touch you. You will be coming forward to receive communion and
will present yourself to God. Then Jesus will touch your hand
in the bread and will touch your lips and your tongue in the
bread and wine. If you understand what is happening and even
if you don't, you will receive the divine touch of Christ, as
the sacrament becomes a part of you. Receive new ears, a new
tongue and a new heart. What do you look forward to hearing that
you might have missed?
