“People brought to Jesus a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him.” “He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” — And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.” “The people were shocked, exceedingly astonished.”
In Jesus’ time, physical impediments such as being deaf or having a speech impediment were signs of sin. Disabled people were denied entry to space that was believed sacred. Ruling segregationists believed it mirrored the disabled person’s religious segregation from the God they had invented. The people were rightfully shocked by Jesus’ behavior of healing the man; Jesus is taking it upon himself to overcome segregation believed decreed by God. Jesus establishes communion as the Way going forward. Unfortunately, some people continue to link disability with sin and segregation. We can know from science that disability is due to a disorder in genes or chromosomes, or a mother being exposed during pregnancy to toxins or infectious diseases, or the effects of an injury. For example, as to speech, we may be born with a speech impediment or develop one due to some type of injury or to a medical condition. Speech impediments include a voice disorder making one’s voice sound hoarse or raspy which is the diagnosis of RFK Jr. or a fluency disorder such as a stutter, a diagnosis of Joe Biden. An intriguing element in stuttering is that stutterers do not stutter when they sing. Research on stutterers and singing from the University of Iowa indicates singing requires regulated breathing flow, which can minimize blocks and prolongations present in speech. Singing a song is also a different brain function – right side/nonverbal melody accentuation – versus talking – left side/verbal accentuation. Also, people usually have to find words when speaking, producing some pressure. We usually know words by heart thus feeling no pressure when singing. We can flow in harmony. Music is primal, says Alice Parker (1925-2023), a teacher of choral music as a composer and conductor at Juilliard. “It is the language of emotions” which we hear and express starting as tiny babies. To have “other people joining me… it’s the most — it sounds ridiculous, but I really believe it’s the most complete human experience that there is.” Parker offers that “singing is the most companionable of arts.” The arts, all art establishes harmonious communion as the Way going forward. Our encouragement of and participation in creative artistry holds us together so that we are less likely as communities to break down. When ruling segregationists do break down neighborhoods and nations, artists are always among those intent upon restoring community connections. Whatever is our art we can minister to people emerging out of conflict. Artists do this routinely, for example ministering to people after warmakers started terrible conflicts in Bosnia, Sudan, and Syria. Individuals can paint and dance and sculpt and sing as an expression of their feelings when their voice seems paralyzed or their words want to stutter. Bringing people together as artistic companions heals the people warmakers segregate as enemies due to judgments of sin. Our conversations with segregationists, even if emphasizing logic and reason, can be devoid of enemy making when we relate to them as companions. We are teaching them to relate as companions to us and to those they judge as sinners. As peacemakers it is how we teach warmakers to sing in harmony.
“I’d like to teach the world to sing In perfect harmony I’d like to hold it in my arms And keep it company I’d like to see the world for once All standing hand in hand And hear them echo through the hills For peace through out the land. That’s the song I hear.” (Backer, Cook, Davis, Greenaway)
Prayer: Spirit of Artistry, We are companions in harmony.
Question: How have I nurtured harmony?
September 8, 2024 Mark 7:31-37 Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time