Here is the text I prepared and shared with those who came to pray with us today: reflections rooted in the encounter between Jesus and a man who could neither hear nor speak.
Have you been paying attention to the drama that is playing out in the political world during these past months? Two weeks ago, the President of the United States announced that there will soon be a new agreement for international trade between his country and Mexico, and over the past week, negotiations are progressing toward the inclusion of Canada in that agreement, or possibly the formulation of a separate agreement altogether.
Against this backdrop, I find it curious that the scriptures ask us today to ponder: do you, do I ... really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? (cf Jas 2:1). If we do, are we really willing to follow him? His portrayal of power is not based on any trade agreement other than a willingness on our part to look beyond the gold rings and fine clothes (cf Jas 2:2) that some people are privileged to possess and to focus our attention on the person instead of the clothing. God has chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised (Jas 2:5).
These are powerful words, but they speak a truth that challenges us to look beyond the physical world that we are used to perceiving. These words challenge us to look inwardly, to ask ourselves what we truly consider to be important in life. These words give us a glimpse into the heart of Jesus who was always more concerned for the person who stood before him than he was for the possessions that person may have clung to.
Today’s gospel passage places us with Jesus at a moment when they brought to him a man who was deaf and who had an impediment in his speech (Mk 7:32). Saint Mark says that Jesus took him aside in private, away from the crowd (Mk 7:33). What a wonderful moment that must have been for this man. Until that moment, he had been ignored by most of the people around him. His deafness had cut him off from countless conversations that had taken place. How frustrating it must have been for him! Yet, Jesus took him aside, paid attention to him as though he was the only person who really mattered.
Jesus knew the frustrations this man had lived with, and Jesus knew how much he wanted to hear again. That’s why he cured him (cf Mk 7:33-35), and Jesus also knows each one of us as well. He knows that each one of us has grown deaf to the cries of our brothers and sisters, even if we have not yet realized that we have grown hard of hearing. Jesus knows that we have developed speech impediments: that our tongues have been silenced or that we have forgotten how to use our tongues to speak out for those in our world who cannot speak for themselves, and he wants to heal us of our infirmity.
Can we be courageous enough to come to Jesus and to ask him to restore the gift of hearing so that we can once again hear the cries of those who need our help? If he were to free our tongues, would we be brave enough to say to those who are fearful of heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear’ (Is 35:4), come to the Lord and rediscover the power of his love.
The great and the small
Have you been paying attention to the drama that is playing out in the political world during these past months? Two weeks ago, the President of the United States announced that there will soon be a new agreement for international trade between his country and Mexico, and over the past week, negotiations are progressing toward the inclusion of Canada in that agreement, or possibly the formulation of a separate agreement altogether.
Against this backdrop, I find it curious that the scriptures ask us today to ponder: do you, do I ... really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? (cf Jas 2:1). If we do, are we really willing to follow him? His portrayal of power is not based on any trade agreement other than a willingness on our part to look beyond the gold rings and fine clothes (cf Jas 2:2) that some people are privileged to possess and to focus our attention on the person instead of the clothing. God has chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised (Jas 2:5).
These are powerful words, but they speak a truth that challenges us to look beyond the physical world that we are used to perceiving. These words challenge us to look inwardly, to ask ourselves what we truly consider to be important in life. These words give us a glimpse into the heart of Jesus who was always more concerned for the person who stood before him than he was for the possessions that person may have clung to.
Today’s gospel passage places us with Jesus at a moment when they brought to him a man who was deaf and who had an impediment in his speech (Mk 7:32). Saint Mark says that Jesus took him aside in private, away from the crowd (Mk 7:33). What a wonderful moment that must have been for this man. Until that moment, he had been ignored by most of the people around him. His deafness had cut him off from countless conversations that had taken place. How frustrating it must have been for him! Yet, Jesus took him aside, paid attention to him as though he was the only person who really mattered.
Jesus knew the frustrations this man had lived with, and Jesus knew how much he wanted to hear again. That’s why he cured him (cf Mk 7:33-35), and Jesus also knows each one of us as well. He knows that each one of us has grown deaf to the cries of our brothers and sisters, even if we have not yet realized that we have grown hard of hearing. Jesus knows that we have developed speech impediments: that our tongues have been silenced or that we have forgotten how to use our tongues to speak out for those in our world who cannot speak for themselves, and he wants to heal us of our infirmity.
Can we be courageous enough to come to Jesus and to ask him to restore the gift of hearing so that we can once again hear the cries of those who need our help? If he were to free our tongues, would we be brave enough to say to those who are fearful of heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear’ (Is 35:4), come to the Lord and rediscover the power of his love.
Le grand et le petit
Avez-vous prêté attention au drame qui se déroule dans le monde politique pendant ces derniers mois? Il y a deux semaines, le Président des États-Unis a annoncé qu'il y aurait bientôt un nouvel accord concernant le commerce international entre son pays et le Mexique et depuis ce temps-là, des négociations sont en cours pour inclure le Canada dans cet accord, où afin d’établir deux accords séparés tout à fait.
Dans ce contexte, je trouve curieux que les Écritures nous demandent aujourd'hui de réfléchir: dans notre foi en Jésus Christ, notre Seigneur de gloire, y a-t-il encore de la partialité envers les personnes? (cf Jc 2,1). Si oui, sommes-nous vraiment disposés à le suivre? Sa représentation du pouvoir ne repose sur aucun accord commercial autre que la volonté de notre part de regarder au-delà des bagues en or et des beaux vêtements (cf Jc 2,2) que certaines personnes ont le privilège de posséder et de poser notre regard plutôt sur la personne au lieu de son habillement. Dieu a choisi ceux qui sont pauvres aux yeux du monde pour en faire des riches dans la foi et des héritiers du Royaume qu'il a promis (Jc 2,5).
Ce sont des paroles puissantes, mais elles parlent d'une vérité qui nous pousse à regarder au-delà du monde physique que nous sommes habitués à percevoir. Ces paroles nous incitent à regarder intérieurement, à nous demander ce que nous jugeons vraiment important dans la vie. Ces paroles nous donnent un aperçu du cœur de Jésus qui était toujours plus intéressé à la personne qui se tenait devant lui que par les biens auxquels cette personne s’était accrochée.
Le passage de l’évangile d’aujourd’hui nous place avec Jésus à un moment où des gens lui amenèrent un sourd qui avait aussi de la difficulté à parler (Mc 7,32). Saint Marc nous explique que Jésus l’emmena à l’écart, loin de la foule (Mc 7,33). Quel moment merveilleux cela a dû être pour cet homme. Jusqu'à ce moment, il avait été ignoré par la plupart des gens autour de lui. Sa surdité l'avait coupé des innombrables conversations. Comme cela a dû être frustrant pour lui! Pourtant, Jésus le prit à part, lui prêta attention comme s’il était la seule personne au monde.
Jésus connaissait les frustrations avec lesquelles cet homme avait vécu et Jésus savait combien il voulait entendre à nouveau. C’est pourquoi il l’a guéri (cf Mc 7,33-35). Jésus connaît aussi chacun de nous. Il sait que chacun de nous est devenu sourd aux cris de nos frères et sœurs, même si nous n’avons pas encore réalisé que nous avions beaucoup de difficulté à entendre. Jésus sait que nous avons développé des obstacles à la parole: que nos langues ont été réduites au silence ou que nous avons oublié comment les utiliser pour parler en faveur de ceux qui ne peuvent pas s’exprimer pour eux-mêmes, et il veut nous guérir de notre infirmité.
Pouvons-nous avoir le courage de venir à Jésus et de lui demander de nous aider à écouter afin que nous puissions entendre à nouveau les cris de ceux qui ont besoin de notre aide? S'il devait libérer nos langues, serions-nous assez courageux pour dire à ceux qui s’affolent: Soyez forts, ne craignez pas (Is 35,4), venez au Seigneur et redécouvrez le pouvoir de son amour.
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