23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

 

Yogi Berra, the legendary baseball player, was not only known for his skills on the field but also for his quirky and memorable sayings, known as 'Yogi-isms.' 

They often made us chuckle, but if you thought about them long enough, they revealed a kind of down-to-earth wisdom.

Take, for example, this classic: ‘When you come to a fork in the road, take it.’ 

It sounds confusing at first, but it’s a humorous way of reminding us that sometimes, in life, we just need to make a decision and move forward, even when the path ahead isn’t entirely clear.

Or how about, ‘It’s like déjà vu all over again.’ 

We’ve all experienced that funny sensation when something seems so familiar, like we’ve been there before. It’s Yogi’s way of capturing that universal experience in a way that makes us smile.

But perhaps the most famous of all was something he said about a restaurant that had become so popular that getting in was nearly impossible:  

‘Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.’ 

The irony is, of course, that it’s so crowded precisely because everyone loves it.

This last saying made me think about today’s Gospel. Jesus heals a deaf man, restoring his hearing and enabling him to speak clearly. 

But then something curious happens—Jesus orders the people not to tell anyone. And what do they do? The more He orders them not to talk about it, the more they proclaim it! 

It’s like the Gospel version of Yogi’s crowded restaurant—everyone’s talking about Jesus because they’ve seen something incredible, and they just can’t keep it to themselves.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on this. 

Why did Jesus ask them to keep quiet?  Why wouldn’t He want everyone to know about the miracles He was performing? 

Some scholars suggest that Jesus wanted to avoid a misunderstanding of His mission—He didn’t want people to see Him only as a miracle worker but to understand the deeper message of God’s Kingdom. He wanted them to listen, not just with their ears, but with their hearts.

But despite His instructions, the people couldn’t hold back. They had experienced something so profound, so life-changing, that it overflowed from them. They had to share it. And in that, there’s a lesson for all of us.

When we encounter the transformative power of Christ, we are compelled to share it with others. It’s not something we can keep to ourselves, even if we try. 

The Good News of Jesus is meant to be shared, spread, and proclaimed, just like those early witnesses who couldn’t stop talking about what they had seen.

This theme of listening and proclaiming runs throughout all of today’s readings. 

In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a message of hope and restoration—a promise that God will come to save His people, opening the eyes of the blind and clearing the ears of the deaf. 

It’s a call to be attentive, to listen to God’s promise and trust in His saving power.

The responsorial psalm continues this theme, praising God who ‘gives sight to the blind’ and ‘sets captives free.’ It’s a reminder that God is always attentive to our needs, always listening, and always ready to act on our behalf.

In the second reading from James, we are challenged to listen without judgment, to see every person as God sees them—especially the poor and the marginalized. 

We are called to act justly and with compassion, showing no partiality, but treating all with the dignity they deserve.

So, what does this mean for us today? 

It means that we, too, are called to listen—to truly listen to God’s word, to the needs of others, and to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 

And then, like those who witnessed Jesus’ miracles, we are called to share the Good News with others, even if it feels uncomfortable or inconvenient.

Perhaps we’ve had experiences where we felt compelled to share our faith but hesitated, thinking, ‘Maybe now’s not the right time,’ or ‘What if they don’t want to hear it?’ 

But today’s Gospel reminds us that when we’ve truly encountered Christ, we can’t help but share Him with others. 

It’s like that crowded restaurant everyone keeps going to because it’s just that good—we need to bring others along with us to experience the joy and the goodness of God’s love.

As we go forth from this place today, let’s remember Yogi Berra’s humorous wisdom and how it relates to our call as Christians. 

Just like that crowded restaurant that ‘nobody goes to anymore because it’s too crowded,’ let’s make sure our faith is so compelling, so full of life and love, that we can’t help but share it with others—even when we think we should keep it to ourselves.

Let’s be those who listen—not just with our ears, but with our hearts—and then go out and fill the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

May our lives be so full of the joy of the Gospel that others can’t help but notice, and may they be drawn to the same faith that we hold dear.

And wouldn’t it be nice if no one wanted to come here because it’s too crowded?