The Holy Gospel According to Mark (7:31-37)
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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Reflection: There are several instances in Mark’s Gospel and the other Gospels where Jesus commands people to be silent after he cures them. Usually, this does not happen. The person who was cured would go out to tell everybody about their healing and that it was Jesus who healed them. As a result, many others who were sick came to Jesus to be healed. This happens in today’s Gospel from Mark. After Jesus heals the deaf man, he orders the people who brought him not to tell anyone. The Gospel reads, “The more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.”
When Jesus cured the deaf man, he said to him “Ephphatha!” which means, “Be opened.” During baptisms, there is a ritual which is rooted in today’s Gospel. During the ritual, as he touches the ears and mouth of the newly baptized, the deacon or priest, says, “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the mute speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.”
This story reminds us of just how much of an impact Jesus can have in our lives. We may not have a physical disability like the man in the Gospel, but we are all spiritually disabled by our sinfulness. With just the touch of his hand, Jesus cures a man of his deafness and speech impediment and gives him a whole new life. In the sacrament of Reconciliation, we know there is a cure for our sins. In this sacrament, Jesus forgives us our sins and frees us from the hold that sin has over us. We encounter Jesus by receiving his grace, mercy and forgiveness. This is an amazing gift of new life. To help us live our life in grace, we have the sacrament of the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of all that we do as Catholic Christians. Jesus wants to heal us and be with us. All we need to do is ask him.
Action for the Day: Today and every day, pray for the healing power of Jesus. Pray for the grace to open our ears to hear the Gospel, to open our mouths to proclaim the Gospel because the Good News is too good to keep hidden!
Audio Reflection:
Thank you. God bless.