THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Today, we read the account of the healing of the deaf-mute man.
We see a curious detail that has also appeared in some of the miracles Jesus
performed. Jesus makes use of matter, whether from the earth or from His own
body. In Cana, for example, Jesus made use of water to produce wine (see John
2). In the healing of the man born blind, Jesus used mud from a mixture of
soil and spittle (see John 9:6). In today’s Gospel, Jesus spat and touched
the tongue of the deaf-mute man to heal him.
No doubt, Jesus could
effect a miracle simply by wishing it. He didn’t need to touch or be touched.
He didn’t need to see or be seen. He didn’t need to speak or be spoken to. He
didn’t need any material to work on. Why employ the need for matter?
This is not merely theatrical
but catechetical. The utilization of matter says something about how God
wants us to be saved. Salvation is not to be the work of God alone. Salvation
is the product of Divine-human interaction. In fact, the Gospel records an
instance when the saving action of Jesus was effectively curtailed by the
absence of human cooperation. Remember Nazareth, where we read, “…and he did
not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith” (Matthew 13:58).
In Mark’s version of the story, it’s even more telling. He said that Jesus
could not do any miracles there (see Mark 6:5). The hardness of our hearts is
really the crux of the matter.
Truly, it will do us well
to remember St. Augustine who is credited to have said, “God, who created you
without asking you, will not save you without asking you.” Fr. Joel Jason
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you doing your part in the story of
your own salvation? Are you withholding anything from God that stifles His
grace from operating in you?
Lord, by Your passion, death and resurrection, salvation has
been done FOR us. Help me realize that it also has to be IN us. Amen.
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