Greetings on this the Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19; Psalm 81:10-11ab, 12-13, 14-15; Mark 7:31-37
Summary
“Hear, O Israel.” Perhaps the most foundational command ever given…
What we say and what we hear matter a great deal in how we act. Tragedy comes from closed or untrained tongues. Difficulty comes from inability to hear clearly.
Israel went into rebellion against David’s house to this day. So Israel went off to their tents (1 Kgs 12:19, 16f).
Rebellion is a great word to describe the situation in Israel in those days, and even so today. If you never read the interchange between Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel and Rehoboam, you miss the political instability. If you skipped over (as our selection today does), you would be unaware of this exchange:
Your father put a heavy yoke on us. If you now lighten the harsh servitude and the heavy yoke your father imposed on us, we will be your servants.” (1 Kgs 12:4).
From the Elders, the advice.
King Rehoboam asked advice of the elders who had been in his father Solomon’s service while he was alive, and asked, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” They replied, “If today you become the servant of this people and serve them, and give them a favorable answer, they will be your servants forever.” (1 Kgs 12:6-7).
From the young soldiers, the advice:
My father put a heavy yoke on you, but I will make it heavier. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.’” (1 Kgs 12:11).
Reflection
Yikes, right?!
In our gospel portion today, Jesus treats the root cause: privately, personally, specifically.
Rehoboam would not listen. The deaf man could not listen. One led to division; the other to restoration by way of the divine groan.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And [immediately] the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly (Mk 7:32-35).
I wonder what his first words were? Praise. I can only imagine praise to the Lord.
Personal Reflection
Lord, Holy Physician, open my eyes, unplug my ears, and free my tongue to praise you and live in the freedom of God’s love!
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021326.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry