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Jesus, like any good lawyer never asked a question that he did not already know the answer to. After the disciples answer his question Jesus increases the heat by asking them who they think he is.

Peter responds with the perfect answer and Jesus points out that his answer is a reflection of God’s presence in his life. Unfortunately for Peter he continues talking and shows that while he gave the correct answer, spoke the correct words he really didn’t understand Jesus or His mission.

In these brief passages Jesus provides us with wise teachings about life.

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In today’s Gospel we have a description of a healing, specifically the healing of a deaf and mute man. Jesus orders the man not to tell anyone but Jesus orders falls on deaf ears, if you don’t mind the irony and the miracle is proclaimed anyway. Jesus must have known that the miracle would be proclaimed, and the people could not keep this a secret. Jesus probably couldn’t help himself. He is a healer. Not only would this man regain his hearing and ability to speak he could become an active member of his community. He would have opportunities that had been previously denied him. He would be taken more seriously by his community because he would have more access to knowledge, and he would be able to share his ideas with greater ease. Jesus not only healed him he restored him.
Jesus taking the man away from the crowd. He doesn’t say anything to the man. It makes sense as the man is deaf. Mark describes several actions, he put his fingers in the man’s ears, he touches the man’s tongue, he looks up to heaven. It has been pointed out that Jesus was communicating with the man in the only way possible, through sign language. Jesus wants him to understand as much as possible in a way that the man could. It is the same for us when we are blind or deaf to God's Call.

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Today’s Gospel reading is from a group of teachings where Mark describes Jesus challenging the Scribes and Pharisees about the practice of their faith. The Scribes and Pharisees were not doing anything wrong. They were literally following the law and the traditions of their ancestors. The point that Jesus is making with them is that they are focusing on little details and missing the more important reality.

I would like to introduce you to Lawrence Kohlberg. Kohlberg's work created a new field within psychology, and his theories became highly influential in the study of moral development. His research also provided the foundation for research on spiritual development.

Another influential researcher is James Fowler who wrote the Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning was first published 1981. The book was later revised in 1995. Fowler, a theologian, and developmental psychologist, proposes that faith is a universal process of meaning-making that evolves through distinct stages over a person's lifetime.