Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), September 6, 2015 – Is 35, 4-7a; Jas 2, 1-5; Mk 7, 31-37

Have you not become judges with evil designs? (Jas 2, 4)

Jesus makes the deaf hear and the mute speak, so that they may, with exultation, listen to and proclaim the Good News.

The healing of the deaf-mute suggests that prophecies attain their maximum fulfillment in Jesus. He is God-with-us who indemnifies and saves. His presence means courage for the frightened, health for the sick, comfort for the sorrowful, forgiveness for sinners, peace for all.

But we who are dejected and discouraged, impatient and anxious, do we not deny the faith we profess? Do we not behave less like the oppressed, whose discouragement turns into encouragement now that Jesus liberates them, and more like the oppressors, whose courage becomes fright in the face of the revenge that comes crashing down on them?

No, it is not altogether impossible that we radiate, not Christ’s comforting joy, but the disheartening sadness or bitterness of the disillusioned, whose “faith is wearing down and degenerating into small-mindedness” (EV 10, 83). Christians could be the worst witnesses to Christ.

And we shall be so if, fooled by outward appearance, we find compatibility between faith in Jesus Christ and discrimination against the poor. If this is the case, then we really do not know the gracious act of the one who became poor for our sake.

Likewise, we undermine our own faith, by behaving in the same way as those who infiltrated Paul’s group with the intention of taking away its Christian freedom. We will be false brothers too, I think, if we are scandalized that Pope Francis urges us to be welcoming of the divorced and remarried, or that he reminds us not to rush into judgement of others, including homosexuals.

True brothers and sisters are understanding and compassionate. They are resolved never to put any obstacle in anyone’s way. They act as facilitators of grace rather than its arbiters; they see the Church as “the house of the Father, where there is a place for everyone, with all their problems,” where the weak, living by the Word and the Sacrament, find healing and strength (EG 47).

Genuine disciples never consider themselves deserving of a prize. They are unlike a “meritocrat” who deems himself with a right to the best position because of his impeccable conduct. They give importance to grace and not to their merits.

Hence, like true witnesses of Jesus, they point, not to themselves, but to him. They want even the individual who insists the most on remaining deaf and mute to proclaim something similar to what St. Vincent de Paul said regarding St. Francis the Sales: “How gentle you are, Oh God, Oh my God, how gentle you are, since there is so much gentleness in your creature, Francis de Sales” (SV.FR XIII:78-79).

Lord, give us ears that will listen to you and a tongue that will praise you.

Ross Reyes Dizon

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