Friday, February 11, 2022

Commentary: Mark 7: 31-37

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 removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Jesus, this healing you performed was probably on a human level, not one of your favorites. As a mother, I have to do a lot of pretty unappealing tasks that involve cleaning bodily fluids and they are definitely not my favorite aspects of the job. I doubt if anyone was watching, they would say, “She does all things well!” But you healed this man in such a graphic way, not because you enjoy sticking your fingers in people’s ears but because you would do anything for your beloved. Your love perfects everything you do. Help me to remember to offer you all of the less dignified tasks of motherhood, out of love for you, and love for my children, so that they can take on a little of that salvific effect too.