Some of you may know that I have two deaf sons who were born with sensorineural hearing loss (I also have a father who has become extremely deaf through old age, which is something different) and so I am very aware of the problems associated with deafness and the frustrations of not being able to hear properly, whether you be young or old. So you can imagine my delight to hear about the fascinating story of Opal Sandy who was treated just before her first birthday with a ground breaking gene-therapy treatment, which has wonderfully restored the damaged hair cells that sit deep inside the cochlea of her inner ear. It is these hairs which are able to translate the vibrations caused by sound waves into messages and signals that the brain can understand. Prior to this ground breaking therapy treatment, the alternatives have always been digital hearing aids or a cochlea implant depending on the severity of the individual’s hearing loss. There is no doubt that this is wonderful science, generated by many years of painstaking research which will be considered by many as a modern day miracle. However, these are still early days, and the ‘window of opportunity’ seems to be very short and limited to the period where infant brains are still developing and considered to be in a state of elasticity. Let’s hope that this ‘window’ broadens so that this procedure or something like it may treat many more people, whatever their age.
Many of you will probably be familiar with the story of Jesus miraculously healing a deaf man who couldn’t speak (Mark 7.31-37). What really strikes me about this episode is the caring, considerate way in which the man is treated. Jesus took the man to one side, away from the noise of the crowds, and indicates through a series of signs and hand gestures what he proposes to do for the man. He places his fingers in the man’s ears (having probably just demonstrated it on himself) and takes some of his saliva and puts it on the man’s tongue (a practice not unknown amongst faith healers). He looks up to heaven to indicate that he is going to ask God to heal the man and makes a deep sigh indicating that like breath itself he is really going to rely on God for what happens next – all visual clues which will help the man understand what is about to happen. Then Jesus loudly declares ‘ephphatha’ which means ‘be opened’ and the man’s hearing is immediately restored along with his speech. It’s not surprising that everyone is amazed declaring, ‘He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak’. The love of God, demonstrated in the compassion of Christ, restores the man to health and wholeness.
Thankfully there is still a lot of love and compassion in the world, but there is also a lot of anger, hurt, bitterness and pain. Many people are very good at talking but not very good at listening. They hear the words but they don’t understand their significance or meaning because of their fixed ideas and perceptions. They are deaf to the needs of others and their point of view. Perhaps one of the greatest miracles of our age would be if we could each be pliable enough to offer the other a proper time and space to be seen and heard. That would demonstrate not only our compassion, but also our willingness to hear and to listen which is so often the first step towards healing.
“The blind receive sight…the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news is preached to the poor.” Luke 7.22
Stephen Thorp 