Tag: deaf man

Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop

From the responsorial psalm: “Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile. Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 7:31-37, today’s readings)

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.

The ears of the deaf man are opened because of the miracle Jesus performs but also because people bring the man to Jesus. Not in isolation, the man experiences the love of others who believe Jesus can restore his hearing and speech. In the first reading, the serpent finds and isolates Eve, effectively dividing her from the union she has with Adam and God and all of creation. In restoring the deaf man, Jesus doesn’t merely undo what the evil one did in the Garden of Eden; he restores the man to wholeness in a foretaste of the new creation, the beatific vision in the life of the world to come. Mark tells us that the man’s speech impediment was removed and that he spoke plainly. The plain speech that drives the evil one away is one word: Jesus.

God, let me see the peace that results from the work Jesus accomplished while on earth and the hope of eternal life in his passion, death, and resurrection. At creation, Lord, you said you found all that you had made very good. Jesus took the deaf man aside, away from others who loved and cared for him, in order to draw him into more intimate union with you. In opening his ears and lips, Jesus restores him to your plan for creation so that all may say of your glory, “He has done all things well.” Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. Saints Cyril and Methodius, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“He has done all things well.” | Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 7:31-37)

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.”

People begin to recognize Jesus wherever he goes. Knowing he is capable of healing, people in the district of Decapolis bring him a deaf man who has a speech impediment. Mark tells us that Jesus takes the man with him away from the crowd. Jesus puts his finger into the man’s ears, spits, touches his tongue, looks up to heaven, and says, “Ephphatha,” which means “Be opened.” Immediately, the man’s ears are opened, and he is able to hear and speak clearly. Although Jesus instructs the people to keep quiet about this miracle, their amazement can’t be contained, and they proclaim his power and goodness to anyone who would hear.

God, you sent Jesus to heal the deaf and mute man, just as you sent him to heal all people. Help me be honest in examining my own life, what to bring to you that most needs healing. Jesus, the Divine Physician, knows better than I do what those things are. But in bringing them to him, I open myself to receiving his mercy, recognizing whose eyes are on me as I am healed. Lord, you want me to be free to love you, to be unencumbered so that I can hear and proclaim your word. For this, I need your grace and merciful gaze upon me. Stay with me, Lord!

From the Gospel acclamation: “Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.