Commentary on the Gospel of

Victoria Sanchez - School Teacher in Madrid

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 

            "He does all things well".

On his journey through various cities, Jesus heals a deaf and dumb man who is brought to him. The story of this healing is a call to openness and communication. Today we have many and varied means of communication: telephone, television, new technologies ........ However, in spite of everything, there is a lot of loneliness. All these dissatisfied and unsatisfied people are represented in the deaf and dumb man that Jesus heals, because sometimes we have a certain difficulty in communicating with God and with our fellow human beings. 

Let us not forget that lack of communication means loneliness. On the other hand, communication is a source of joy and happiness. That is why a true friend is a real treasure, because if loneliness is unwanted, it is one of the most painful feelings we can experience, because it can destroy us both humanly and spiritually. If so, we must ask ourselves: Do we experience God's love? Do we discover God as Father? Is our knowledge of his love transmitted to our brothers and sisters? Do we feel God's tenderness, if no one has ever been tender with us?

These questions should lead us to reflect on what others can suffer when they feel lonely, and how we should approach them, so that they can remedy such a state. We are responsible for so many people who are abandoned and alone, who are looking for the love, affection and care that they never had.

On the other hand, if loneliness is sought after, it has a great value. "Only those who love it are able to reflect and avoid many misfortunes, because it is a fertile source of wisdom. It is only in solitude that one feels the thirst for truth" (says María Zambrano). Knowing how to be alone is an effective remedy against superficiality, routine and meaninglessness, it helps us to meditate and to put our inner self in order and to plan our activity serenely.  In it, people and our self acquire a new dimension.

We need our spirit and our heart to be renewed by the word of Jesus "Open up" (Mark 7,34), to open our ears to hear the cry of so many men, women and children who are cut off from communication, and as the letter of the apostle James said, to open our ears to the inner silence where the best of ourselves is and where the message can resound, the "Good News" of the one who opened the ears of the deaf and loosed the tongue of the mute.

The causes of miscommunication and isolation are very diverse. But they are almost always rooted in selfishness, mistrust and lack of solidarity.

Give us, Lord, new eyes to see you in my brothers and sisters, new ears to hear your voice when you ask me to open myself to the world. (Psalm 145) Praise the Lord, O my soul!

HAPPY SUNDAY TO ALL

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