Tuesday, March 10, 2015, Day 18
Mark 7:31-37 (NRSV)
When the people tell about Jesus making the deaf hear and the mute speak, this is building energy for the declaration of God's chosen among all the Judean people. This would not be good news for those that were prospering under the current regime. It would certainly not be good news for those that gained power or wealth by compromising the values of their faith.
As we see this particular passage, it is quite earthy.
The healing is done with saliva.
Jesus puts his fingers in a man's ears.
He speaks an Aramaic word (Ephphatha) which Mark translates for his Greek readers.
This is the only Gospel story with these kinds of details about this particular healing. We know that John often told different stories or had different sources but maybe Luke and Matthew were uncomfortable with this particular miracle.
It makes me wonder if my own ears are stopped up. What would it mean for Jesus to put his fingers in my ears?
If I hear Jesus speak the word, Ephphatha, what opens up for me?
Healing can often be uncomfortable.
It may require things of us that are painful such as stretching unused muscles.
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| Sometimes spirituality comes in messy ways. Healing can even occur despite our ordering of the universe. |
It sometimes requires an honest accounting of ourselves.
As I think about those for whom Good News would be troubling, I wonder if there are compromises that I've made that keep me from hearing or speaking to the reality of Jesus today.
Earthy is real. When I think about it, I want my faith to be real.
Prayer for today:
O Great Spirit, whose breath gives life to the world, and whose voice is heard in the soft breeze: we need your strength and wisdom. Cause us to walk in beauty. Give us eyes ever to behold the red and purple sunset. Make us wise so that we may understand what you have taught us. Help us learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. Make us always ready to come to you with clean hands and steady eyes, so when life fades, like the fading sunset, our spirits may come to you without shame. Amen.
Prayer is from a Traditional Native American Prayer
Photo by By Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
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