Please read the passage before the homily.
My sisters and brothers,
Jesus used a ritual to heal “the deaf man who had a speech impediment.” He took the person aside, put his finger in the person’s ears, used spit, touched him and said some words.
Rituals help us do certain things. Our morning rituals guarantee that we get dressed and ready for the day without brushing our hair and combing our teeth.
Rituals also warn us of the important significant event that is happening. Even children know how to ritualize things in their play.
Mark even used key words to reinforce the significance of things Jesus said and did. He used four words throughout his gospel to do this. In today’s passage he used three of these words.
The Greek words Mark used need different terms in English. In broad strokes the words are ecstasy, release, right away, and rise. Ecstasy is a state of being besides oneself. Release can mean release from pain or from sin. Right away can mean immediately or on the right path. Raises up, which does not appear in this passage, means to rise or to be raised up.
Jesus said to the deaf person, “Ephphatha”, that is, “be opened or released from the impediment or from sin”. Immediately, or straight away or right away, the ears were opened, and the impediment was released and the person could speak correctly. At this the crowd was “exceedingly astonished, or besides themselves.”
Jesus goes through Mark’s Gospel releasing people from infirmities including death and releasing us from death and sin. Jesus made straight and right the way of the Lord and we rightly follow him. Those who had witnessed the marvelous things Jesus said and did were ecstatic and we likewise look forward to the ecstasy of being besides ourselves in the glory of heaven.
Our ritual of the Eucharist will bring us more closely to the ecstasy of heaven.