A Word to Hear

They say that silence is golden, but sometimes it is oppressive, and if it is unbroken, as it is for the deaf person, silence forms a barrier between people.  Something similar can happen when we cease to hear God’s Word; obstacles begin to go up. 

Our God is a God of community and conversation.  He desires to be with us and to speak with us.  In the normal course of things He does this through the Word –when it is preached, when it is read, in the Sacraments, and when it is embodied by His people.  (…[W]e are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  - 2Corinthians 5:20 ESV)  He wants us to hear Him, and He longs for our response in prayers and actions. 

We must be specific in this, though, this community and conversation with God is something He begins.  We cannot make it happen.  He finds us.  He “calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies” every believer, and keeps us in the one true faith, that is, He keeps us in community and conversation with Him. 

However, like the child who “didn’t hear” his mom when she called because he was having too much fun in the yard, we sometimes choose to not hear God’s Word.  Sometimes we “stuff our ears” to avoid hearing God’s voice.  Not that we always do this intentionally.  Sometimes we are so busy, filled with worried thoughts, and consumed with things of this life that God’s voice is lost in hubbub. 

What do we do then?  How do we hear God’s voice again? 

I think we can find a clue in our Gospel lesson from this past Sunday (Mark 7:31-37).  This reading recorded the encounter of Jesus with a deaf man who could not speak properly.  Jesus healed the man in a peculiar way.  Taking the man away from the crowd to a more private setting, Jesus put his fingers in the man’s ears, and then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.  It was like a form of sign language.  Jesus was telling the man what his problem was.  Putting His fingers in the man’s ear was like saying, “You are deaf.”  Spitting and touching his tongue:  “You can’t speak properly.” 

How is that helpful?  Well, sometimes we need someone to point out the obvious to us.  It’s like when someone says, “You are too busy.”  And you think, “Perhaps that’s why I feel disconnected from my family.”  Or someone says, “You have too much stress.”  And you realize, “Maybe that’s why my prayers seem so shallow, I’m still holding on to my problems instead of giving them to God.”  Again, we gather and someone says, “You are a sinner.”  And we respond, “I need forgiveness.” 

Let’s be clear:  Jesus’ stating the obvious is not mocking or making fun, like we sometimes do when we tell someone, “Duh!  That was obvious!”  It is a statement of compassion that reflects His desire to save the man.  His deep sigh and speaking of, “Ephphatha!  Be opened!” shows that! 

We need to hear that word spoken to us, “Ephphatha!” that we might hear God’s Word anew.  Then our spiritual “ears” are opened to hear God’s Word rightly proclaiming His Law and Gospel to us; telling us of our sin and delivering God’s forgiveness in Christ. 

This will then loosen our tongues, to share the good news of God’s love with others, to sing our Redeemer’s praise, and to speak, “Gloria Dei!” – that is, “Glory to God!” 

  

Questions to Ponder

-          While I have used the events of this healing as a parallel to how Jesus spiritually opens our ears, this is a real event with a real deaf person.  What would be the biggest challenge for that man in this scenario?  What about the crowd?  What about Jesus? 

-          Look at the way Jesus healed the man.  Imagine watching the event as it unfolded.  How did Jesus protect the deaf man’s dignity?  What does this teach us about our care for others? 

-          How did the man respond to the healing?  What about the crowd?  Why is the crowd’s response significant?  (See Isaiah 35:4-7 for a hint.)

-          How are verses 33-35 parallel to God’s application of Law (confronting us with our sin) and Gospel (giving us forgiveness for Jesus’ sake)? 

-          Do you ever shut God’s Word out of your hearing?  If so, how?  Pray about that, repenting and knowing that God forgives you!  (1 John 1:9-10)

-          If God is a God of community and conversation, what does this say about the importance of things like Sunday worship, personal devotions, Bible study and prayer?