Theme: Jesus helps us in our adversaries. Do we return to him?
Scripture: 1 King 11:29-32, 12:19; Ps. 80:10-15; Mk. 7:31-37
God was displeased with Solomon because his heart turned away from God. When we lose sight of God, the troubles engulf us. It happened with Solomon. Two foreign adversaries rose in power namely Hadad, the Edomite and Rezon, the son of Eliadh. Hadad had taken shelter in Egypt. He had run away during the time of David. He found favours with Pharaoh. He grew up in power and stature Egypt. Rezon had taken shelter in the Syria when David attacked the king of Zobah. He had gathered men around him. It is interesting to note, Solomon had adversaries from both the sides. Hadad came from the south and Rezon came from the North. However, the most dangerous adversaries came from within. We hear about Jeroboam in today’s reading. He was an Ephramite, a fellow Jew. He was a labour officer over all the Israel. He was not happy with Solomon for he forced his people into labour. With the help of Prophet Ahijah, God foretold the plan of divided kingdom of Israel. The ten tribes would be divided from the United Kingdom of Israel and only one tribe will remain with kept for David and the city of Jerusalem. Solomon had adversaries from everywhere; from the north, south and within. These adversaries came in the life of Solomon to check his faithfulness, to chastise Solomon in his wrong doing. But he failed to return to God unlike his father David. Or no one took him to the Lord because he was surrounded by people who did not know true God (his pagan wives).
In the Gospel today, Jesus cured the deaf and dumb man in a gentile land. Interestingly, the pagans brought him to Jesus. The man could only see but could hear and speak. Jesus performed this miracle within seven step. He took him aside in private. He put his fingers in his ears. He spat on his fingers. He touched his tongue. He looked up to heaven. He sighed. He said, Ephphatha. This was unusual manner in which Jesus healed this man. The thinkers say that Jesus adapted different way to heal people. It shows his power over everything. The seven steps are symbolism of method of perfections. The man had adversaries within himself to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. He had personal encounter with Jesus. He was completely healed and became the evangelist. He not only overcame physical but spiritual adversaries to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
We are also blessed during the sacrament of baptism by the same words. The priest blesses our ears and tongue. It is a call to hear the word of God and proclaim it to the nations. As we grow, we may face adversaries from outside or within to this fundamental task. We need to return to Jesus who has power to heal us. There is nothing spectacular in this world but to hear the Word of God and proclaim it the nations. Jesus wants to heal all those who are suffering from adversaries (especially spiritual deafness and dumbness). Can we bring them to Jesus or can we bring God’s word to them in their adversaries?
Fr. Alex D’Mello
