ACC ~ Mark 7 v31 - 37

OVERVIEW:

In his ministry of loosing tongues and opening ears, the Lord was pointing to the time when all nations would hear and speak of God’s own coming in person (LACTANTIUS, PRUDENTIUS, GREGORY THE GREAT). In preaching the Word today, the minister is symbolically touching human ears that they may be opened to the living Word by the mystery of grace (AMBROSE). The power that may not be handled came down and clothed itself in flesh that could be touched, that all humanity might behold his divinity, which transcends the touch of flesh (EPHREM THE SYRIAN).

7:33 | He Put His Fingers into His Ears, and He Spat and Touched His Tongue

THE TOUCH OF THE LORD

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: That power which may not be handled came down and clothed itself in members that may be touched, that the desperate may draw near to him, that in touching his humanity they may discern his divinity. For that speechless man the Lord healed with the fingers of his body. He put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue. At that moment with fingers that may be touched, he touched the Godhead that may not be touched. Immediately this loosed the string of his tongue, [1] and opened the clogged doors of his ears. For the very architect of the body itself and artificer of all flesh had come personally to him, and with his gentle voice tenderly opened up his obstructed ears. Then his mouth which had been so closed up that it could not give birth to a word, gave birth to praise him who made its barrenness fruitful. The One who immediately had given to Adam speech without teaching, gave speech to him so that he could speak easily a language that is learned only with difficulty. [2] HOMILY ON OUR LORD 10. [3]

[1] Mk 7:32-37.

[2] Cf. Gen 1:27-28; 2:20.

[3] CSCO 270-271:8-9; NPNF 2 13:309**. With Jesus’ human fingers that touch, the deaf mute was simultaneously being touched by the Godhead who transcends touch.

THE FINGER OF GOD

GREGORY THE GREAT: The Spirit is called the finger of God. When the Lord put his fingers into the ears of the deaf mute, he was opening the soul of man to faith through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. HOMILIES ON EZEKIEL, HOMILY 10. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 1710, 1.10.341; SSGF 4:20**.

7:34 | Be Opened

THE MYSTERY OF OPENING

AMBROSE: Every sabbath we witness the “opening up” of a mystery. It is in outline form the type of that liturgical opening when the minister once touched your ears and nostrils. [1] What does this mean? Remember in the Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ, when the deaf and dumb man was presented to him, touched his ears and his mouth: the ears, because he was deaf; the mouth, because he was dumb. And he said: “Ephphatha,” a Hebrew word, which in Latin means adaperire [be opened]. In this way the minister is now touching your ears, that your ears may be opened to this sermon and exhortation. ON THE MYSTERIES 1.4. [2]

[1] At baptism and chrismation.

[2] Cetedoc 0155, 1.2.15.9; FC 44:269**; cf. NPNF 2 10:317. Listening to the gospel preached in the sabbath service is a recapitulation of the liturgical opening that occurs when the minister touches ears and nostrils in baptismal chrismation. This sort of opening of the ears occurs upon meeting the living Word.

PETITION FOR AN OPEN WAY

AMBROSE: So open your ears and enjoy the good odor of eternal life which has been breathed upon you by the grace of the sacraments. This we pointed out to you as we celebrated the mystery of the opening and said: “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened,” so that everyone about to come to the table of grace might know what he was asked and remember the way he once responded. Christ celebrated this mystery in the Gospel, as we read, when he healed the one who was deaf and dumb. ON THE MYSTERIES 1.3-4. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 0155, 1.3.90.12; FC 44:6**.

7:35 | His Ears Were Opened, His Tongue Released

THE HEARING OF THE GENTILES

LACTANTIUS: He thereby declared that it would shortly come to pass, that those [1] who were destitute of the revealed truth would both hear and understand the majestic words of God. Accordingly you may truly call those deaf who do not hear the heavenly things which are true, and worthy of being performed. He loosed the tongues of the dumb. They spoke plainly—a power worthy of admiration [2] even in its ordinary operation. But there was also contained in this display of power another meaning. It would shortly come to pass that those who were previously ignorant of heavenly things, having received the instruction of wisdom, might soon speak God’s own truth. DIVINE INSTITUTES 4.26. [3]

[1] Gentiles.

[2] Mt 9:33; Mk 7:37.

[3] Cetedoc 0085, 4.26.6, 3.78.8; ANF 7:127**.

7:36 | He Even Makes the Deaf Hear and the Dumb Speak

TONGUES UNLOOSED

PRUDENTIUS:

Deafened ears, of sound unconscious,

every passage blocked and closed,

At the word of Christ responding,

all the portals open wide,

Hear with joy friendly voices and

the softly whispered speech.

Every sickness now surrenders,

every listlessness departs,

Tongues long bound by chains of silence

are unloosed and speak aright,

While the joyful paralytic

bears his pallet through the streets.

HYMNS 9.