By Rev. Msgr. Rob Kinnally
In the Gospel readings offered in many traditions for the last two Sunday’s, Jesus has encounters with folks that lead to curious mandates from Him. I’m a firm believer in helping believers unpack the meaning behind those kinds of conversations so that we can all understand a bit more and then go forward, challenged and inspired.
In the seventh chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is asked why his followers don’t follow some of the rituals that have been a part of Jewish temple tradition forever. In his response, Jesus chastises those obsessed with following ritual for the sake of following ritual and not understanding the meaning and relevance therein. Jesus calls them out because they are not authentic; for example, they worry more about ritual purification of vessels than living lives of purity. He warns them of the dangers of maintaining a tidy façade that hides a broken interior life. Jesus suggests that what those ritual-handwashing “police” miss is the opportunity to get their hands dirty serving God and their brothers and sisters.
This discourse on cleanliness is an invitation to spend more time on creating a clean heart for God and directing our hearts and hands toward our neighbor. It reminds me of the reading from Joel that we hear on Ash Wednesday where God speaks through the prophet and says “rend your hearts, not your garments.” This Markan Gospel passage is a life-giving mandate to forget about checking boxes and remembering to love without condition. It’s a call to ask ourselves, “Why do I do what I do? And what am I doing for God and my neighbor?
It’s so important to wash our hands, but when it comes to living life, we have to make sure we aren’t “washing our hands” of the responsibilities of discipleship. The great news is that in our prayer, Jesus will gently lead us to life-giving ritual and tradition.
The second passage I’d like to highlight in this category of curious Jesus mandates is from Mark 7:31-37. It’s the story of the healing of the deaf and mute man. Here’s how the healing is relayed in the New American Bible:
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.
Did you ever wonder why Jesus often told those who witnessed his miracles not to tell anyone what they saw? The deaf and mute man’s hearing is restored and his speech is clear because Jesus cured him. But Jesus instructs the crowd “not to tell anyone.” If we were there, wouldn’t we say something like: “Really, Jesus?! This is amazing, and I want to tell the whole world – one minute this man was deaf and unable to speak and the next minute you commanded his ears to be opened and they opened; one minute no one could understand the man, and the next minute everyone understands what he is saying. I want to share that story with everyone in my circle of family and friends right away! Why can’t we tell anyone?!”
I think Jesus might reply this way: “You don’t yet understand who I am. You think I have worked some kind of magic. I don’t want you to share that understanding of me with others. When you fully embrace the reality that I am the Son of God, the Promised One who does the will of the Father and works these miracles because they are the will of the Father — and the Father and I are one – then you can tell the whole world! When you understand that an encounter with me is an opportunity for healing, forgiveness, and deep and abiding love, then you will not need a miracle; you will be satisfied with knowing that you are truly loved by me. ”
If we understand Christ as “miracle-worker,” we do not have the whole story. A meaningful and life-giving encounter with Christ should encompass more than the possibility of a miracle. A meaningful and live-giving encounter with Christ will leave us feeling like we are fully alive despite our weariness. It will brighten our way, despite the darkness that may have enveloped us. It will lift our spirits when we thought we were fairly spirited already. A true encounter with Christ — in prayer, in church, in nature, in friendship, in art, in music, and wherever we find Christ – will cause us to experience a true miracle: overcoming the fear that has left us unable to see, hear, and speak what Christ has to offer – becoming our best selves in Him. Free of that fear, we become what He wants us to be. And once we are who we are meant to be in Christ, then we are free to tell everyone what happened!
Jesus has many curious things to say, but He always speaks the truth that is grounded in love, and stills our curiosity with His loving presence. I pray that however you believe, you will know that peace that comes from Divine Presence.
Rev. Msgr. Rob Kinnally
Pastor, Saint Aloysius Church
