Sam Bills begins with Jesus words from Mark 7:34, Looking into heaven, Jesus sighed deeply and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Open up.”

Sam refers to our two lectionary readings for the morning, James 2:1-17 and Mark 7:24-37, in light of our fall transitions back to some semblance of normal after so many months of lockdown following the covid outbreak.

Sam found himself drawn back to Jesus’ healing of a deaf and mute man — which restores him to community. It offers a gospel of hope, healing, hearing, and even restoration and expanded understanding for himself and for our community — all expressed in the word ephphatha, open up.

But this is the second story of healing in this passage. The first is that of the Syrophoenician woman. Jesus has come near Tyre, the boundary of the Roman empire, formerly a center of Phoenician economic and military power. So this is not only a woman, but one of enemy descent — an outsider of outsiders. It seems to have been somewhat common for outsiders and strangers like this to be referred to as dogs. Is Jesus tired? The text tells us that he has entered a house in an effort to be hidden, and this woman is defying custom by approaching him. It is clear that she is desperate, driven by concern for her child. Jesus seems to refuse her rather abruptly. Is this a test of faith? Or could it be that the interaction is also shaping Jesus? His healing ministry to gentiles does seem to accelerate after this, including the healing of the deaf and mute man — in a Greek area. The woman’s encounter with Jesus adds layers of meaning to this healing story that follows.

Ephphatha, open up. What are the things that keep us from this openness? What needs to be let go of as we go forward?

Hear more as Sam talks about the relation of these stories to the James text, and the grounded faith that centers us and enables us to live in this posture of openness.