Father Chris – TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY ORD TIME 2021 – Homily

“Being Open To God and To Life”

We may not have ever thought about this, but given Christ’s great popularity with the people who are “astounded beyond measure” by his gifts and charisma,it would be quite natural for Jesus and his disciples to be courted and welcomed by the wealthy and influential of his time, something the disciples themselves might have expected to be part of their own unexpected, but splendid journey.

After all, they and many others considered Christ to be the New Messiah
who would rescue the Jewish race from the tyranny of Roman occupation.


Yet we find Jesus ‘deliberately’ choosing to pass through the towns and cities of the non-Jews, for the Decapolis region was fully gentile. It was also the home of a great many poor and desperate people.


In fact, scholars tell us Mark is actually making a deliberate point of telling us that Christ travelled through this area to emphasize that his Good News was to be proclaimed beyond the Jews themselves, to be evangelized throughout the world, … while also demonstrating to the disciples the key aim of proclamation should be a greater focus on the impoverished, suffering, and underprivileged in society, rather than upon the wealthy, healthy, and fortunate.


This emphasis on broadening his ministry throughout the globe is coupled with Christ’s healing which was a major part of his ministry. In fact, this healing event is more detailed and complex than most of his other healings, because his actions are ‘sacramental’ gestures which have been translated into our Christian sacraments:

1.) putting his fingers into the deaf man’s ears = is opening the man’s ability to hear Christ’s Words of Salvation,

2.) spitting on his fingers = is preparing a ‘symbolic’ sacred oil to be applied to the deaf man,

3.) touching the man’s tongue = is enabling the man to then speak and evangelize to others the Word which he has just heard.


This should all sound familiar, because these gestures are practiced in our Rite of Baptism as the final blessing of the candidate called the “Ephphatha”, meaning in Aramaic to ‘be opened’ just as the gospel tells us.


For the whole world to be opened to Christ’s good news. This is the Christian ethic. As our Baptism liturgy says, ‘We should be proud to profess it in Jesus’ name.’.


But how open are we? Are we open to all the rapid changes taking place in our lives right now? Do we push back against the trials and tribulations we’re being confronted with out of fear for the sake of our human vulnerability? Will we ignore the common good, a major Christian, moral ethic, or protect only our self-interests?


Or are we open and accepting of what life is offering us, making a positive effort to understand the challenges first before rejecting them? Are we turning our backs, letting anger and bitterness confuse our thoughts, instead of facing and coming to terms with difficulty, then responding in a productive, progressive and loving way, learning from others who have the gifts and talent to help us address our concerns?


As Christians we are no longer deaf nor mute because we have been blessed in baptism with the Word of God which teaches us to be gentle and loving in all things, to seek only the things above, nourish our souls with prayer and charity. So, are we open to our experiences, both positive and negative, which are helping us grow in wisdom, to be molded and shaped by our Creator who is always with us?


Beloved writer and former Catholic priest, John O’Donohue, once wrote: “Though suffering and chaos befall us, they can never quench that inner light of providence. The [inner] soul redeems and transfigures everything, because the soul [our true, inner selves] is the divine space, [God within us].”


Like someone mentioned to me, “If God is in your life, there is nothing to fear.” As Christ taught us, do what is required of Caesar, then give to God what is God’s.


Indeed, there is No fear with Christ at our sides, present until the end of the age. As in the Roman calendar, even the Bible tells us 365 times, “Do not be afraid.”


So, be open to what the world and life presents you with, and acquire the wisdom hidden within it. Above all, let your ears, tongue, and divine soul be opened to the Word of God and learn to love each other as Christ loves us.


– Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario