23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle B
September 5, 2021
Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 8:30am and 11am
Heidi’s Parents
Nine years ago this summer, I flew to Denver to officiate at my nephew David’s wedding.
David was marrying a young woman named Heidi. I had met Heidi on a previous visit to Denver.
Well, at the rehearsal, I met Heidi’s mother and father. They are both deaf and their serious hearing impairment makes it impossible for them to speak clearly.
As I understand it, the speech impairment follows the hearing impairment. At any rate, Heidi’s parents are very warm, friendly, and likeable persons.
The Deaf and Mute Man
I think of Heidi’s parents when I read today’s gospel.
There is this man who is both deaf and mute. And notice: Jesus first enables the man to hear and then, after that, to speak.
If he can hear, then his speaking will follow. And notice also: Jesus heals the man by using just two words: “Be opened!”
“Be opened!” In opening the man’s ears and mouth, Jesus heals the man physically.
But, as wonderful as this is, the healing is even more than the physical. In those days, unlike Heidi’s parents today, those who were deaf and mute were very isolated from society.
They were treated as incapable of holding a job or of being with others in any way at all. On top of that, they were also perceived as alienated from God.
Why? Because their disability was seen as a punishment for sin, even though no one could name the sin. So, Jesus’ healing of this man is physical, and it is also social and spiritual – that’s how great it is!
“Be Opened!”
Now, I think we need to take this one step farther.
Jesus’ words – “Be opened!” – are also intended for us. he calls us to “Be opened!”
Some years ago, I came across a very simple morning prayer. It is easy to remember.
“Lord, open me: inward to you, outward to others.” “Lord, open me: inward to you, outward to others.”
Jesus wants us to “Be opened!” And for that to happen, we need to want it and pray for it.
“Open Us: Inward”
So first, we pray: “Lord, open us: inward to you.”
Open us to your presence within. You are here, within us, removing our isolation and being our constant companion in the journey of life.
Open us to your strength within. You are our empowerment to deal with the everyday stuff of life and our refuge when times are tough.
Open us to your love within. You are the outreaching, unconditional love of God and the grounding of our self-worth.
And open us to your healing within. You, little by little, put together our loose ends, remove our alienation from God, and make us whole and holy persons.
“Open Us: Outward”
And then, we pray: “Lord, open us: outward to others.”
First open our ears. Help us to hear the happiness or sadness, the self-confidence or self-doubt of another person.
And then Lord, open our mouths. Help us to speak words of comfort to a neighbor who is grieving or words of challenge to a society that is caught in violent words and actions.
Also, Lord, open our eyes. Help us to see a spouses’s need for a caring intervention about alcohol or an aging parent’s need for help around the house.
And finally, Lord, open our minds. Help us to examine our judgments about people who are different from us or our prejudices toward certain groups of people.
Conclusion
So, Jesus says: “Be opened!”
And we pray: “Lord, open me: inward to you, outward to others.”
And, by the way, my nephew David and Heidi remain happily married and are the parents of two wonderful little girls, Elsie and Mila.
