“He took him off by himself…”
How does the action and word of Jesus Christ and the reception and response of the deaf and mute man in the Gospel teach about the Sacramental Life? Each line of the Gospel teaches us an aspect of the Sacramental Life. The line, “And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly” is discussed in the Lesson: The Effects of the Sacraments.
“He [Jesus] took him off by himself away”
In Divine Revelation God reveals Himself throughout history, this Revelation begins with a couple (Adam and Eve) and slowly expands to a family (Noah), a tribe (Abraham), a nation (Moses), a kingdom (David), and finally through Jesus Christ and the Church to all nations. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit.” [1] God’s revelation expands throughout time, but what we see in the Sacraments is this love that has been given to every person is now directed and focused in on the individual person. Sacraments are not performed in groups; they are individual. Each person is taken “off by himself” and personally touched and spoken to. Just as twins, who share the same womb, come out of that womb individually and have their own birth, so to sacramentally twins would have their own spiritual birth. This is why in the Sacraments we are not called by “group” but rather called by “name”.
“spitting, touched his tongue”
A Sacrament is an outward sign. All Sacraments have matter or element. As the body is necessary to human life, so too is matter or element necessary for the Sacraments.
“then he looked up to heaven and groaned” – Jesus is showing us the source of the Sacrament. Sacraments give us grace, the divine life.
Sacraments are instituted by Christ, who is God, and entrusted to the Church, who is guided by the Holy Spirit. Sacraments are not the work of man, nor are they magic; the source of grace is God. The Sacraments have been criticized as being magic or the work of man, both are untrue and we must work hard to clarify these misconceptions. The word Hocus Pocus, which is a reference to magic, is directly making fun of the prayers of Consecration “Hoc est enim Corpus Meum”. Hocus Pocus comes from “Hoc est Corpus” which in translated “This is Body” To say that the words of Consecration is magic is sacrilege.
“and said to him, “Ephpahtha!” – that is, “Be opened!”
A Sacrament is an outward sign of an inner grace. All Sacraments have word of form. As the soul is necessary to human life, so too is the word or form necessary for the Sacraments. It is the soul that animates the body, and so too it is the word or form that animates the matter and element making the Sacrament valid. Many religions use matter and elements but what makes the ritual null and void is the fact that the word or form does not have the power and authority of God. Magic for example uses matter and elements, but the word or form does not come from God. This is why in some examination of conscience guides it will ask if we have participated in horoscopes, fortune tellers, palm readings, tarot card readings, or have used Ouija boards. All of these things uses supposed false power not from God, but from magic and claim this “magic” to be true. In the case of word or form we have if it comes from God, from an angel (Satan and his demons are fallen angels), or from man. We know that Jesus is true God and true man and that all Sacraments were instituted by Him, with His very words. Magic therefore is a mockery of the Sacraments and for this reason is the sin not only of sacrilege but also a sin against the first commandment, “Have no other gods beside me”.
“He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.”
The Sacraments should spark within us zeal to proclaim the Gospel. The deaf and mute man told everyone about the grace he had received from Christ. This zeal gave glory to God, but also would draw others to Christ, so they too would receive healing. Our zeal and Sacramental Life should give glory to God and draw others to the Sacramental life, which is the Life of Christ.
I thought we are called to proclaim the Gospel, why did Jesus order them not to tell anyone? At the moment of the healing it was not yet time to “proclaim the Gospel”. Jesus had not yet given the command, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” [2] When Jesus gave this order it was first to the apostles who “went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.” [3] For it would be the bishops (successors of the apostles) who would be the primary caretakers of the deposit of Faith and the heralds of the Gospel. Unlike the deaf and mute man, we have been given the task to proclaim the Gospel. If the deaf and mute man who was told not to proclaim, proclaimed and with great success, how much more successful will the proclamation be from us, who have been given the permission and command to proclaim the Gospel. Many times we are told by society, friends, family, and even government to “not tell anyone”. We should follow the example of the deaf and mute man. The more we are ordered not to tell, the more we should proclaim it. The Church in every age has been commanded by the world to either not proclaim the Gospel or to mute the proclamation of the Gospel. As Christians we are not obliged to obey this command because it is contrary to the command of Christ, “What I say to you in darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” [4]
They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
When we live out the Sacramental Life, the Life of Christ, people will be “exceedingly astonished” and we will give Glory to God. People will say of God, “He has done all things well.” When people witness a husband and wife living out a Sacramental Marriage, people will be astonished. They will say that God has done all things well in this couple. Those who see the marriage will be inspired also to have a Sacramental Marriage if marriage is their vocation. Those who see the contrition and penance of a sinner who repents and goes to confession will be astonished and will say that God has done all things well in this person, they too will be inspired and reconciled with God.
[1] Matthew 28:19
[2] Matthew 28:19-20
[3] Matthew 28:16
[4] Matthew 10:27