Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Mark 7:31–37

As the mother of five small children, meltdowns are expected. What isn't expected, however, is that I, the mother, the adult, should be having them, but that's what happened yesterday. My family was doing fine as I embarrassingly and humiliatingly melted down over what should have been a joy-filled day.

Here is the story.

It was a Sunday, and our family schedule included attending Mass, baptizing our son, and hosting a family party. 

Post-Mass but pre-Baptism, I magnanimously apologized to my husband for acting stressed out when the whole family went to the grocery store. He forgave me and gently told me that every Sunday, I act frustrated with him and our kids. He asked me what needed to change so that I could be more joyful on Sundays, but I was too angry to answer. 

To my shame, that anger only increased through the Baptism, the party, and our evening routine. We went to bed on good enough terms, but I had let myself get so wound up that I knew it would take time to recover. 

Today, very much in meltdown recovery mode, I headed to the chapel with my tail between my legs to pray through this week's gospel. 

In Mark 7:31–37, Jesus travels through the Decapolis, an intersection of Greek cities, where they bring Him a deaf man with a speech impediment. They beg Jesus to heal this man. Jesus takes the man away from the crowd, puts His finger in his ears, spits on His finger, touches His tongue, and then prays, "Be opened." The man immediately receives hearing and the ability to speak plainly. Jesus then instructs them to tell no one, but as usual, no one listens. They excitedly share with everyone what happened.

Symbolism and details abound within this story, and each would make an excellent reflection. 

For example:

Jesus' healing in the Greek Decapolis symbolizes that salvation goes beyond the Jewish faith and extends to the whole world.[1]

Jesus healed the man far from the crowds, physically touching his ailments, reminding us that Jesus deals with us uniquely and personally.[2]

“Mogilalos” is the Greek word used to describe the speech impediment, which appears one other time, in Isaiah 35:5–6, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy," revealing that Jesus is the promised Messiah.[3]

These beautiful details offer deep meditation, but as I read this passage, I got stuck on a different detail. I couldn't stop thinking about they. They brought the man to Jesus. Who were they? What led them to realize that Jesus was this man's only hope? Was the deaf man a willing participant, or was he reluctant to let them bring him to Jesus?

Maybe the deaf man knew he needed Jesus, but possibly he didn't. This man could easily have gotten used to his plight. He had never known a life with hearing, and he had never known how to speak clearly. It could have been easy for him to think, either with resignation or bitterness, "This is who I am. It isn't going to change." 

His friends, however, saw things differently. They knew a life filled with pleasing sounds and edifying conversations. They knew a better way and wanted it for their friend. They knew he needed Jesus and did what it took to get him there. We don't know if he wanted to go, but we do know that he let them take him to Jesus. It was there, at Christ's feet, that the man found healing. The Son of God opened his ears and put praise in his mouth. 

Friend, who is your they? Who is trying to lead you to Christ? What is it that they are seeing? Are you willing to follow or not?

Yesterday, I realized that my husband was trying to be my they. He saw the wound of habitual anger in me. It keeps me from embracing my vocation and living with joy. It keeps me from drawing closer to Jesus. He tried to lead me to the Savior who heals, but I refused to follow. 

The truth is that I'm used to living with a wounded heart. I can't imagine life without my defects, and so, in certain instances, I shy away from going to Christ. Instead, I stubbornly melt down until I am too tired to fight. Only then, exhausted from holding onto my pride, do I listen and go to Christ, where He meets me with open arms and infinite mercy. 

What about you? Perhaps you want nothing to do with Jesus, but your mom, aunt, or friend sent you this post. 

Maybe that annoys you, but is it possible they know of a life you cannot conceive? 

Could Jesus be the answer to your disillusionments and questions? 

What if you were to step out in humility and follow them as they bring you to Christ? 

Maybe you have been following Jesus for a long time, but, like me, there are parts of your life that you are hiding from Him. Could the devil be getting a foothold into those hidden places? Who might have a better view of your blind spots than you do? Are you listening to them with humility? What might be holding you back?

You may know that you need Jesus but are afraid of how He wants to heal you. It could feel strange and unfamiliar. Is it serving you to keep Him at arm's length? What might be on the other side of His healing methods? 

In Mark 7:37, those who witnessed the miracle were astonished beyond measure and said, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Dear sister, Jesus can do all things well in your life. He can make the deaf hear, the mute speak, and the blind see. He gives joy where there is anger, peace where there is anxiety, forgiveness where there is bitterness, and restoration where there is trauma. All things are possible at His feet. So if someone else is leading you to Him, if they want to bring you to Him, let them know; you won't regret it. 

In His heart,
Mallory Smyth

Food for thought or journaling...

Think about the people in your life. Who, whether they realize it or not, is trying to bring you closer to Jesus? Maybe they are explicitly inviting you to go deeper in your faith. Maybe their presence in your life draws out parts of you that need restoration and healing. What are those things? What might He want to do in your heart if you went to Him for healing?

Dear Lord, I love You as much as I know how to love You, but there are still so many ways in which I am blind to Your goodness and deaf to Your voice in my life. So often, when I want to use my speech to glorify You, I use it to glorify myself. Reveal how You want to heal me, and give me the humility to see how people in my life lead me closer to You. Help me draw nearer to You, no matter the cost. Amen.

[1] Mary Healy, The Gospel of Mark (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008), 146.
[2] David Guzick, “Study Guide on Mark 7,” Blue Letter Bible (27 August 2024): https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/mark/mark-7.cfm?a=964003.
[3] The Gospel of Mark, 146.