NOTES for Mar 7:31-37
31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. |
32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. |
33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; |
34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. |
35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. |
36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; |
37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. |
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Faith and long-suffering are symbols of Christian steadfastness in trials. When the Lord helps us, when all suffering ends, we often begin telling everyone about what has happened. And at that very moment we often drown out the voice of Christ addressed to us. Christ says to almost everyone He heals, "do not tell anyone." He calls us to silence, to finding peace, to the struggle against the noise produced by the surrounding world.
In fasting we ask that the spirit of humility, patience, and love be sent down to us. To receive these gifts, we need silence. Silence as time for conversation with Christ. And in our prayer, whether we pray according to rules or in our own words, few words are necessary. They are necessary precisely because Christ's work is accomplished in silence and secrecy. In the silence of morning and the slight chill of dawn, His friends and disciples learn that He is not in the tomb. That He is risen.
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