I wonder if it is possible for those of us who have hearing and speech to imagine what it is like to be both deaf and dumb. What can it be like not to hear the sound of music, or laughter, or the dawn chorus, or the roar of excitement? And what must it be like not to be able to talk, to tell your story, to explain yourself, to share news, to sing a song? The words frustration, isolation and loneliness immediately come to mind. No wonder Jesus did not hesitate to heal a deaf mute (see Mark 7:31-37).
The healing of a deaf mute is a very powerful reminder to us of the importance of communication in our lives. Communication is vital in building relationships. It is the life blood of relationships. Without communication relationships wither and die. Inspired and indeed challenged by the healing of the deaf mute we might ask ourselves some questions about where real communication needs to happen in our lives and in our society. A good place to start is the home. What kind of communication do we have with the people we are living with? Would we describe it as quality communication or is it mainly superficial? Surely the home is not just a place where we share information. It also needs to be a place where we can share what is in our hearts.
Perhaps the biggest threat to our safety today is different ideologies, especially religious difference. Going forward some form of dialogue will be absolutely essential. Are we willing to enter into dialogue with those who are different to us? The bomb and the bullet will never succeed in putting an end to difference. Only dialogue will help us understand difference and live peacefully with it.
And then there is our relationship with God. Are we communicating with God? Are we making even a little time to listen to God and share the story of our lives with him? In other words, are we praying? Without prayer we are not going to experience the friendship with God for which we long.
When Jesus healed the deaf mute he said two simple words: Be opened. In our communication with others, be they family members, neighbours or God, perhaps Jesus is also saying to us: Be open. It is an attitude of openness that makes real dialogue possible and which in turn helps to build relationships.