From: Mark 7:31-37
The Curing of a Deaf Man
[31] Then [Jesus] returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to
the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. [32] And they brought
Him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they be-
sought Him to lay His hand upon him. [33] And taking him aside from the mul-
titude privately, He put His fingers into his ears, and He spat and touched his
tongue; [34] and looking up to Heaven, He sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,”
that is, “Be opened.” [35] And his ears were opened, his tongue was released,
and he spoke plainly. [36] And He charged them to tell no one; but the more
He charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. [37] And they were
astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well; He even
makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”
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Commentary:
32-33. Sacred Scripture quite often shows the laying on of hands as a gesture in-
dicating the transfer of power or blessing (cf. Genesis 48:14ff; 2 Kings 5:11; Luke
13:13). Everyone knows that saliva can help heal minor cuts. In the language of
Revelation fingers symbolized powerful Divine action (cf. Exodus 8:19; Psalm 8:4;
Luke 11:20). So Jesus uses signs which suit in some way the effect He wants to
achieve, though we can see from the text that the effect—the instantaneous cure
of the deaf and dumb man—far exceeds the sign used.
In the miracle of the deaf and dumb man we can see a symbol of the way God
acts on souls: for us to believe, God must first open our heart so we can listen to
His word. Then, like the Apostles, we too can proclaim the “magnalia Dei”, the mi-
ghty works of God (cf. Acts 2:11). In the Church’s liturgy (cf. the hymn “Veni Crea-
tor”) the Holy Spirit is compared to the finger of the right hand of God the Father
(”Digitus paternae dexterae”). The Consoler produces in our souls, in the superna-
tural order, effects comparable to those which Christ produces in the body of the
deaf and dumb man.
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Green.
| First reading |
| 1 Kings 11:29-32,12:19 © |
| Solomon is unfaithful; the Lord moderates his wrath |
One day when Jeroboam had gone out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah of Shiloh accosted him on the road. Ahijah was wearing a new cloak; the two of them were in the open country by themselves. Ahijah took the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve strips, saying to Jeroboam, ‘Take ten strips for yourself, for thus the Lord speaks, the God of Israel, “I am going to tear the kingdom from Solomon’s hand and give ten tribes to you. He shall keep one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’
And Israel has been separated from the House of David until the present day.
| Responsorial Psalm |
| Psalm 80(81):10-15 © |
I am the Lord your God: listen to my warning.
Let there be no foreign god among you.
no worship of an alien god.
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you from the land of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
I am the Lord your God: listen to my warning.
But my people did not heed my voice
and Israel would not obey,
so I left them in their stubbornness of heart
to follow their own designs.
I am the Lord your God: listen to my warning.
O that my people would heed me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
At once I would subdue their foes,
turn my hand against their enemies.
I am the Lord your God: listen to my warning.
| Gospel Acclamation |
cf.Jn6:63,68 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;
you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia!
Open our heart, O Lord,
to accept the words of your Son.
Alleluia!
| 'He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak' |
Returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, right through the Decapolis region. And they brought him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they asked him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue with spittle. Then looking up to heaven he sighed; and he said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And his ears were opened, and the ligament of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly. And Jesus ordered them to tell no one about it, but the more he insisted, the more widely they published it. Their admiration was unbounded. ‘He has done all things well,’ they said ‘he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.’