Reflection by Deacon Matt

Reflection for 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: 

Isaiah 35:4-7a: Our readings start with a marvelously soothing and hopeful message. We aren’t to be afraid. We’re to trust in God. Isaiah is saying that more than fearing God as our “prosecuting attorney,” we must accept God with trust, and have faith in God as our “defense attorney!” While it makes perfect sense that we ought to “fear” God enough to reverence our Creator, it also makes sense that we must always remember that our God’s desire isn’t to condemn us, but to redeem and save us. When Isaiah proclaims that our God “comes with vindication,” the prophet is reminding us that our God collects evidence to “plead our case,” that we be judged with lenience. Our “defense attorney God” collects evidence to save us. We must make efforts to practice goodness in our thoughts, words, prayers and deeds, so that there’s evidence somewhere of our efforts to truly live out the faith. We must bear good fruit!

Psalm 146: “Praise the Lord, my soul!” Today’s message of hope in God continues in today’s psalm. We celebrate God’s faithfulness and justice. We also celebrate God’s provisions for our temporal needs and God’s power to save us from any kind of captivity; whether physical, mental or spiritual captivity. 

Next, we proclaim God’s healing power… God’s ability to release us from physical “imprisonments,” like blindness and deafness, and God’s Mission to “raise up those who were bowed down.” These include all of the poor and vulnerable: widows, young children, the poor, sick and disabled people all around us. Reflect that we’re all called by God to help care for them!

James 2:1-5: This passage adds a poignant reminder of the non-judgmental and unprejudiced outlook that we’re called to maintain in our relationships with others. We’re being told here not to discriminate between individuals because of wealth, social position, race, class, religion or for any other reason. We’re being called to love and serve others without prejudice; treating each person we encounter as if that person were Jesus, Himself! Truthfully, each person we encounter is Jesus, Himself. Didn’t Jesus say: “As long as you did it for one of these, my least ones, you did it for me.” (Matt 25:40). That’s worth pondering.
Everyone around us needs love and encouragement… the rich, the poor, the sick and those who might be physically well, but suffer from some kind of spiritual loneliness or torment. Many are suffering around us, but we may have no clue of the trials that they’re enduring. Let’s pray to be open to Jesus’ promptings to us, of ways we can comfort them.
Mark 7:31-37: Now, after all of our emphasis on looking to God for hope and for healing, we’re witnessing in today’s Gospel, the healing of a man’s deafness and speech impediment. Jesus is freeing this man from the “imprisonment” of social separation from others. Imagine how this man’s ability to interact with others meaningfully, had been affected by his disabilities. Now, he’s set free!

We might benefit from contemplating this week about what areas we may have “blindness” and “deafness” that need to be healed. Are we “blind” to the sufferings of others around us whom could benefit from our assistance? Are we “deaf” to others’ subtle or even direct requests for our help, assistance, encouragement, or simply, attention? Lord, open our eyes and ears! 

Reflectively, 
Deacon Matt