While reading the Catholic News a few weeks ago I came upon this article, “A special wedding”: the story of two hearing impaired young people who were married in St Paul’s RC Church in Couva.

The writer spoke about how, through the efforts of devoted parents, these two challenged young people were able to live a normal life, such that they were now able to join together in wedlock and look forward to a happy and successful married life.

Some advice was given in conclusion: “Through good parenting, through doing our best for our children – no matter the odds – we will be able to guide them on the right path and help reduce the high crime rate that is plaguing our society today.”

As I reflected on the Gospel of this weekend I thought of the
above-mentioned article and noted the similarity between the two stories. I realised that the parents of the couple had to do what Jesus had done so many years ago.

Through their devotion and love for their children they were able to put their finger into their children’s ears and touch their tongue with spittle.

It must have been a daunting task, and no doubt these parents would have had some difficulty getting the right type of help for their children. They must have had to go to the “district of Tyre… by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, right through the Decapolis region.”

But because of their faith, they were able to look to heaven and sigh and say to their little ones, “Ephphatha”. And their ears were opened  - they were able to study, graduate and take up good jobs.

They are now able to understand and make themselves understood in a normal working environment. This is because their ears were opened and the ligament of their tongue was loosened so they could speak clearly.

We realise when reflecting on what Jesus did, how important it is for us not to look down on people when we think they have disabilities, for by just making the effort we can change them from deaf and “dumb” to clear speakers.

Today we commend those in society who would speak on behalf of the downtrodden who normally would have no voice. How much better it would be if we could make the deaf hear and the dumb speak. How it would boost their self-esteem if they were able to hear and speak for themselves.

There are young people in certain areas of T&T whom society considers the scum of the earth and brand them criminals, and we blame them for the rise in crime.

But we have heard social workers tell us time and again that many of these perpetrators of crime are illiterate. Perhaps we as parents, teachers, community leaders, and other capable people need to take the example of people like Fr Jason Gordon who goes to out-of-the-way places – Tyre, Sidon, the Decapolis region – to open their ears and put spittle on their tongues, look up to heaven, sigh and say “Ephphatha”.

Lord, there are many people in our society who are challenged in various ways and we call them marginalised and less fortunate. There are those who have low self-esteem and little self-respect.

We thank you for people like Fr Jason Gordon, and those unselfish workers in the NGOs who through love, patience and devotion are able to help them lift their self-esteem, be proud of themselves, and live more meaningful lives.

To help the downtrodden is an overwhelming task and so many times we shy away from our responsibilities to those we consider of a lower class. We are quick to cast blame for our misfortunes and the lowering of our quality of life on them.

Forgive us for our weakness and lack of understanding. In times like these we are the deaf and have speech impediments. Open our ears to hear the cries of the weak and put spittle on our tongues so that we may speak wisdom to them.

As Christians, we would like to follow the example of Jesus and do what he has done, make the deaf hear and the dumb speak.

We need among us in our community, courageous people who would set the example and show us what to do. Send us priests, teachers, community leaders, committed workers who would do as Jesus did so that we will all be able to say, “He has done all things well, he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”

Felix Edinborough is managing director of Catholic Communications Studios and a parishioner of St Anthony’s, Petit Valley.