Isaiah 35: 4-7; Psalm 146; James 2: 1-5; Mark 7: 31-37
On this Labor Day weekend we hear of God’ s labor: of love, nourishment, healing, freedom, sight, welcome. Whom does God welcome? James tells us that God has chosen those who are poor in this world, and we had best not make distinctions and judgments. If we are ever tempted to disdain the Jews of Jesus’ time, they who officially disdained the disabled as sinners, today’ s gospel corrects our judgment. “They” bring the deaf man to Jesus, Jesus ordered “them,” “they proclaimed it…they were astounded.” Isaiah describes the messianic kin-dom, the psalm tells God’ s detailed job description, and Jesus puts flesh on God’ s healing work.
How has God labored on your behalf? Re-write Psalm 146 and detail God’ s work in your life. To whom, to what are you deaf? The poor, the stranger, the boss? Ask the Spirit to show you, and try hard to listen! “Be opened!” Jesus says to you today.
You have done everything well, Jesus! Bless the work of our hands. Make them open, healing, welcoming hands. Thank you for your glory and your kin-dom!