Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/584



The Omnipotence  of  our  Lord. The  first  miracle  related,  i.  e.  the curing of  the  woman  of  Chanaan’s  daughter,  was  worked  by  our  Lord at a distance  from  her  who  was  possessed,  and  by  the  sole  power  of His  Almighty  will. In the  second  miracle,  the  “Ephpheta”  and  its instantaneous effect  remind  us  of  God’s  great  creative  words:  “Let light be!”  and  their  instantaneous  effect:  “And  light  was.”

Both miracles  were  wrought  on  Gentiles. Our  Lord  wished  to  show that, provided  they  would  believe,  the  Gentiles  had  a share  in  the  kingdom of the  Messias,  even  if  the  Israelites,  by  reason  of  their  election  as  God’s people, had  the  first  claim.

Faith and  humility  of  the  woman  of  Chanaan.

Perseverance in  Prayer. This  woman  did  not  give  way  to  discouragement, although  for  a time  Jesus  would  not  hearken  to  her. His sole response  to  the  intercession  of  His  apostles  was  to  say  that  He  was sent only  to  the  Israelites,  and  His  reply  to  herself  sounded  very  like  an absolute  refusal. This shows  us  that  we  ought  never  to  weary  of  prayer, even though  it  seems  as  if  God  would  not  hearken  to  us.

The meaning  of  ceremonies.  In  healing  the  deaf-mute  our  Lord made use  of  several  signs  and  ceremonies  wherewith  to  enable  the man to  understand  what  was  the  matter  with  him,  and  to  whom  it was  he  owed  his  cure,  inducing  him  thereby  to  have  faith  in  Him. 1. The  gazing  up  to  heaven  was  meant  to  show  him  that  God  alone could help  him. 2. The  sigh  breathed  by  Jesus  was  to  make  him realize what  a miserable  condition  he  was  in,  and  to  induce  him  to sigh  to  heaven  for  relief. 3. The  touching  and  anointing  of  his  ears and tongue  was  intended  to  show  him  plainly  that  he  owed  his  cure to Jesus. In her  services  and  in  administering  the  holy  sacraments  the Church follows  the  example  of  her  Divine  Lord,  and  makes  use  of outward  and  visible  signs,  whereby  to  raise  our  hearts  and  minds  to the  supernatural,  and  make  plain  to  us  the  invisible  effects  of  the  holy sacraments.

The man  deaf  and  dumb  is  a type  of  the  unregenerate. He who is unbaptized  is  deaf  to  the  supernatural  truths  of  religion  and  dumb to confess  his  faith  and  his  own  sinfulness. By Baptism  the  theological virtues of  faith,  hope  and  charity  are  implanted  in  the  soul  of  man; his spiritual ears  are  opened  to  the  Divine  truth,  and  his  tongue  is  loosened to confess  the  faith,  and  to  thank  the  Redeemer  for  his  benefits. In the rite  of  Baptism  the  Church  imitates  the  action  of  our  Lord,  the priest touching  the  child’s  ears  and  nose  with  spittle,  while  he  pronounces the  word  ‘Ephpheta': ‘Be  opened!’

Hearing and  speech  are  gifts  of  God, and  as  such  should  be  used rightly. Remember that  you  have  two ears, but  only  one  tongue,