21-08-2026, Friday of Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
ἐφίμωσεν (ephimōsen Gk) (To muzzle / silence En) (Mt 22:34)
The Word to reflect today is from today’s Gospel passage according to Matthew (22:34-40). The word ἐφίμωσεν means to tie shut, as done to an animal to prevent its snatching up grain while treading on a threshing floor muzzle (1Cor 9:9); figuratively (put to) silence, deprive of an argument (1Pet 2:15);
The passage begins with, a statement that the pharisees were pondering that Jesus had put to silence the Sadducees. Literally like a muzzle that is put on the mouths of animals, Jesus had silenced them. “For it is God’s will that by doing right you should ἐφίμωσεν (silence) the ignorance of the foolish” (1 Pet: 2:15). The Word was also used when Jesus silenced the seas, “”Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ἐφίμωσεν (ceased), and there was a dead calm.” (Mk 4:39). But what about the Pharisees? Will they also be silenced?
THE Pharisees, of whom one was a lawyer, desiring to test and ridicule Jesus, ironically addresses Him as
“teacher”. Generally, a teacher tests his students and not the other way around! The lawyer expects an abstract answer, and instead Jesus says persuasively: You shall love, and surely his penetrating gaze implies: ‘Yes, you shall love rather than plot, deceive, disdain, seek to destroy, as you are doing with me. I have come to bring you light and truth because I love you, and in response, far from listening to me with an open heart, you want to ensnare me and get rid of me.’ Note the exhaustiveness of his answer: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Heart, soul, mind” – three words that represent the three elements that together constitute the whole person. Jesus now proceeds to give a second part to his answer, a twist that the lawyer surely does not expect. In his desire to define and delimit, the lawyer requested Jesus to select one, and only one, from among the 613 commandments prescribed by Torah and to label it “the great commandment”. Jesus goes on to say, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”. This silences the Pharisees and the lawyer, as Jesus with authority, presents two commandments instead of one great commandment.
What about you and me? Are we also too preoccupied with the noise of our plans, the violence of our evil ways? Do we accept God’s Will, or are testing Jesus just like the Lawyer. Let us ask the Lord to calm all our violence and noise to become silent before Him. “”Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ἐφίμωσεν (ceased), and there was a dead calm.” (Mk 4:39)