1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19
Mark 7 : 31-37
At times I wonder which is a more unfortunate disability - to be blind, or to be deaf.
A blind person is easily identified by his dark spectacles, white cane and the way of walking.
On the other hand, a deaf person looks just like any ordinary person.
It is only when we interact with such a person that we will slowly discover that he actually could not hear what we are saying.
Furthermore, his speech may also not be comprehensible. Because the inability to hear also affects the diction.
So a deaf person is cut off from the world of audio. The only way to communicate with a deaf person is through signs and by touch.
That was how Jesus communicated with the deaf man in today's gospel.
Jesus touched his ears and his tongue. Jesus also looked up to heaven to let the man see that the healing powers were coming down from on high.
The gospel account reminds us that in order to be understood, we must know what the other person can understand.
Because communication is not just a matter of the mind but it is more a matter of the heart.
Even in the 1st reading, Jeroboam and Ahijah have all the faculties of communication, yet the tearing of the cloak into twelve strips spoke of an imminent
breakup of the kingdom and separation.
Communication is a matter of the heart because it leads to communion. That was what Jesus came to do, and this is what we must continue to do.
We just need to open our ears and our eyes first, before opening our mouths, then we will realise that the understanding of the other person will lead to a deep communication.