The True Salvation

 Reflection on Today's Readings, 23rd Sunday of Ordinary, Year B, September 5th, 2021
Texts: Is. 35:4 -7a; Ps. 146:6c-10ab; James 2: 1-5; Mark 7:31-37
The fact that salvation is about human person is clear in today's readings. In today's first reading, it is said, "Say to those who are of a fearful heart, 'Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.' Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy." In these words, prophet Isaiah tells us that when salvation shall come the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk and the mute will speak. This means the salvation promised by God is the restoration of human person to the image and likeness of God; that which has made human handicap will be eliminated. Salvation returns us to the perfect state in which God created us. Salvation brings wholeness.
God's salvation heals us of our blindness and brings about clear vision; the revelation of the truth. When God saves us, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free (John 8:32). The salvation of God heals us of our ignorance. When we are saved by God, our ears will be inclined to God's words. The sign that we are saved by God is that we will be ready to hear and listen to His words.  When we do not take God's word seriously, our claim to be saved is fake. If our claim is genuine, we must be able to say, like Jeremiah, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts" (Jer. 15:16). When we experience the salvation of God, we shall be swift to spread abroad the news about God’s wonderful deeds. Hence, it is said, "then shall the lame man leap like a deer". This is clear in today's gospel reading, when it is said, "And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it." We are yet to be saved when we find it difficult to proclaim abroad the mighty deeds of God. The salvation of God comes with the readiness to spread the news about His mighty works. When God saves a person, He loses his tongue and make him to speak about His wonders and to praise Him. Prophet Isaiah puts it thus: "and the tongue of the mute sing for joy".
We see,  in today's gospel reading, Jesus  Christ manifesting God's salvation and fulfilling the prophecy of prophet Isaiah in today's first reading. Jesus  Christ healed the deaf and the mute. He continues to do the same in our time. Jesus still rids us of deafness and mute by constantly speaking to us and confronting us with His wonders. When we encounter the wonders of God, we cannot but speak about it and praise the name of God. In today's first reading, He promised to confront His people with His wonders: "For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water."
The salvation of God also entails justice, and no partiality. St. James, in today's second reading, encourages us to avoid impartiality. He says, "My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory". He shows that we are partial when we use double standards. He puts it thus: "For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, 'Have a seat here, please,' while you say to the poor man, 'Stand there,' or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" Today's psalm also speaks of justice. It says, "It is the LORD who preserves fidelity forever, who does justice to those who are oppressed". The justice manifests in His concern towards the hungry, the oppressed, the blind, the prisoners, the widows and the orphans. We contribute to the salvation of the world by toying the path of justice.

Since it is from you, God our Father, that redemption comes to us, your adopted children, look with favour on the family you love, give true freedom to us and to all who believe in Christ, and bring us all alike to our eternal heritage. Amen. (Today's Office, Morning Prayer).

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke