A friend shared with me one time that he experienced some problem physically when he was born. There were certainly and understandably some concerns on the part of his parents, but everything eventually turned out just fine. I was curious what the problem might have been. I had no idea, but he wasn’t willing to share and said it didn’t matter. I mean, what could it possibly have been? Was there was one of something where there should have been two or something was not descended and in proper position? I didn’t find out then and I still don’t know to this day, but I’ve come to realize that it really doesn’t matter. He is still a good friend and has been and continues to be a very, very good priest. This memory in conjunction with some scripture from daily Mass had me thinking about my own childhood issue. When I was a youngster my parents started to have some serious concerns. I wasn’t speaking. Other children my age were already blabbing away – but not me. Hearing wasn’t the issue. They knew that I heard sounds. It was simply my apparent inability to speak. They were prepared to take me to a specialist, such were there concerns. My paternal grandmother sought to allay their fears. Don’t worry, she said. He’s just a late bloomer. Enjoy the quiet; because once he starts speaking, he won’t stop! She knew something that they didn’t. Perhaps, a young boy whispered something into her ear as she held him tightly in her arms. I still remember how she used to absolutely smoother me with kisses every time I saw her. I can still feel her very light grandma whiskers upon my cheeks and I miss the special powder blue mug that was just and only for me to use
when I was at her house. I so wish that I had that mug today, because it would be filled not with milk or juice, but so many happy memories. My grandmother was correct. Perhaps it was because I didn’t have siblings to compete with or perhaps it was because I was simply a shy little guy, but I didn’t have a speech impediment and once I did start speaking…well, you know. So, forgive me if the homily is a little long! Our Faith is very much like this. Jesus, as you know, cured any number with speech impediments. I suppose that when it comes to our Faith, all of us have a speech impediment of sorts at first. This was even true of the Twelve, but once they came to realize Who Jesus really was and What His Presence meant – they couldn’t keep quiet and shouted the Good News to the whole world! The same is true for us when we come to the same realization and allow Jesus to heal tongues cleaved to the roofs of our mouths. In the scripture
readings I had read, it was a young Samuel that upon recognizing the Voice of the Lord, became “fully awake” from his slumber and would go on to become a great Prophet whose voice could not be silenced. In the Gospel reading that day, it was Simon’s cured-of-her-fever-mother-in-law that couldn’t be silenced in my opinion. Although she speaks not a word in the bible passage, the next thing we know in that passage, lots of people are showing up at the door of the house looking for Jesus and looking for a cure from all sort of ailments and illnesses first and foremost among them, I would suggest, that of speech impediment. Listen for the Voice of the Lord in your life and then allow the Lord to “loose” your tongue. Then you and I – all of us – will be “fully awake” and we simply won’t be able to stop blabbering about Our Lord and the very Good News indeed, that He brings!
Peace!
Fr. Wilson