"Off By Himself"

When I read today’s Gospel (Mark 7, 31-37) a few times, I found myself always pausing at the following;

“He took him off by himself away from the crowd.”

The question that kept repeating in my mind was why. Why did Jesus take this deaf man with a speech impediment away from the people who brought him there, the crowd? Was He going to perform some magic act and did not want everyone to see how He performed miracles much like a magician tries to keep his slight of hand trick secret? Of course not.

I truly believe that what these words point out to us is that the healing of whatever ailment we may be afflicted with happens only when we are in direct one on one contact with the Lord. It is through that personal contact, by looking directly at Him and listening intently to Him without distractions from a large crowd or group of people that we hear the one or two words that heal us.

In the case of the deaf man, Jesus after casting His eyes up to heaven utters “Ephphatha!, “Be opened.” The centurion on his personal contact with Jesus asked Him for the healing word when he said, “Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”
Yes, I know that we say this praying in unison, as a crowd just before receiving the body and blood of Christ, but it’s only through our own personal interaction that we receive the healing grace from God. It is much easier to hear His word when you are away from the crowds.

Let us pray that God sharpen our hearing in order so that we may hear that wonderful healing word that He has for us.

Just be quiet and listen.