Saint Mark 7: 31-37
12th Sunday after Trinity: 4 September Anno Domini 2022
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
We think we do things for Jesus. We don’t, not really. But we should do things for our neighbors.
We think we come to church. Well, we do, but not really. The Holy Ghost calls us by The Gospel. The Spirit gathers tired, weary, naked, hungry, thirsty, and dying people. You were brought here this morning to receive life—and to receive it abundantly!
As Christ once “came unto the Sea of Galilee,” so too now this morning He comes to Sea of His sheepfold here in Shawnee; He comes to the Sea of His Baptismal Font overflowing with water of regeneration and new-birth!
Jesus first came to you at that font, or one like it, because also had a horrible birth defect—an impediment of speech. Your ears were sealed shut with satanic skin folds of original sin. Your little baby scaly tongue was sewn tightly to the roof of your mouth with the black thread of self.
You didn’t journey to the Great Physician. He came to you because HE’S ALWAYS HERE—here specifically in His Church where He has attached Himself permanently and really in His Word. Not Jesus some way off and distant wherein you are forced to “remember” Him, think about Him, and imagine some kind of weak spiritual presence. No! He's really here; actually here; BODILY here in His Word and His Word attached to the + Water; to The Holy Absolution (it’s Word); and to The Blessed Sacrament.
“And they bring unto Him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech.” Who’s the “they?” His parents? His God-parents/sponsors? His friends and loved ones? Yes!
You were “taken aside” by The Christ. The Lord put His Holy fingers—fingers that worked dutifully for three decades plus three years to DO The Law; fingers that twitched in spasmodic horrible pain as the nerve endings from the pierced wrists exploded in agony at Calvary. Those fingers, the very pen of a ready writer, the very tongue of The Trinity, opened your ears and loosed your infant mouth at your Baptism. There, you, like the deaf-mute, were placed into Jesus and had Jesus placed into you!
Baptized once, but forgiven as many times as The loosing, opening, cutting-free, Gospel is placed in your ears. Every confession & absolution is your “Ephphatha” moment that re-connects you with your watery rebirth. Every time a pastor traces the sign of The Holy + Cross, the Blood-drenched crucifix on your forehead in private absolution is your “Ephphatha!”
And as Jesus has forgiven you; Jesus has lived, died, and rose again for you; Jesus feed you all of this “loosing,” this Peace and Strength and Joy at the communion rail. He does even better than spiting on your tongue—He places His very Body and Blood on it.
Your ears are open. You hear: “your sins are forgiven; come to me when you are weary and heavy laden—I will give you rest.”
Your tongue is loosed, the diabolical cord is cut, and you speak the wonderful and merciful things of your Lord and God. You hear Him say “take eat, My Body; take drink, My Blood,” and you speak plain: “Amen!”
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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