Discretion

For John, BLUF:  In this week's Gospel reading Jesus show compasion in Ministering to a person with handicaps.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Gospel, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here is the Gospel Reading from Saint Mark 7:31-37:

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
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.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

In the Second Reading Saint James tells us (2:1-5) to not make distinctions, but to treat all the same, rich or poor.

In the Gospel Jesus shows us that we can make exceptions.  The man suffering from deafness and a speech impediment is taken off, away from the crowd, where Jesus csn minister to him in private.  I see this as a courtsey to the man.  This is guidance to all of us, in that when we minister we should not do it in a showy way.  Rather, when possible, do it in a private way, to provide some dignity to the person.

Regards  —  Cliff