Sam Bills was drawn to Jesus’ healing of a deaf and mute man — restoring him to community. It offers a gospel of hope, healing, hearing, 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 our passage. The first is that of the Syrophoenician woman. Not only is she a woman, but one of enemy descent — an outsider of outsiders. Jesus has entered a house in an effort to be hidden, and this woman defies custom by approaching him. She is desperate, driven by concern for her child. Jesus refuses her abruptly. Is this a test of faith? Or could it be that the interaction is also shaping Jesus?

Ephphatha, open up. What things are keeping us from this openness?

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