Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”—that is, “Be opened!”— And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Gospel Trivia:
We may think that healing the deaf and making the mute speak pale in comparison with the other more amazing miracles of Jesus; such as, the raising of Lazarus, or multiplication of the loaves of bread, or the healing of a blind man.
For the evangelist Mark, healing the deaf, the mute and the blind allude to the Old Testament belief that such miracles are signs of the coming of the day of the Lord.
Note that Mark describes the reaction of the Jews as being "exceedingly astonished" -- no where else does Mark emphasize so strongly the reaction of the crowd.
Note also that this miracle was performed in Sidon which is considered pagan territory, i.e. non Jewish, the chosen people. This is likely an allusion to the spiritual deafness of the Jews at that time.
Thus, what appears to be one of Jesus' common miracles conveys a significant message: the Kingdom of God has arrived in the person of Jesus, and it is revealed to all peoples (Jews and Gentiles).
We consider being Catholic as the modern "chosen people." Today's gospel says that the Kingdom is meant for all peoples.
Reference:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Manila: St. Paul Publications, 1988), pp. 58-60.
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