Mark 9:33-37
3 POINTS:
- This miracle is a fulfillment of Isaiah 35:5-6
- The eyes of the blind will be opened
- The ears of the deaf will be cleared
- The lame will leap like a stag
- The tongue of the dumb will sing
- Why did Jesus order them not to tell anyone? (Mark 7:36); also Mark 1:43-45, Mark 8:27-30.
- Jesus did not want to be confused with a political messiah. Later on, Jesus revealed His true mission to His disciples: “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
- This miracle has a distinctive correlation to the sacraments
- A sacrament is a sacred sign that signifies, contains and communicates the grace of Christ.
- Each sacrament has a matter and a form
- The matter of a sacrament is the symbol that expresses the main sacramental action. For example, the matter of the sacrament of baptism is the pouring or immersion in water. The matter of the sacrament of the Eucharist is the unleavened bread and wine. The matter of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is the anointing of oil on the forehead and palms.
- The form of a sacrament is the formula or the words of prayer used. For example, the form of the sacrament of baptism is “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The form of the sacrament of the Eucharist is the Words of Institution. The form of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is “May the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit; May the Lord who frees you from sin, save you and raise you up.”
- In this particular healing of the deaf and mute man, the matter used by Jesus is putting His finger in the ear, spitting, and touching the tongue. The form used by Jesus is “Ephatha!”
Jesus Christ acts through His Church in the celebration of the sacraments; i.e., Jesus is the primary minister of the sacraments, and He is present in every sacrament. The priest celebrates the sacraments in persona Christi.