Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Gospel Reading: 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.”

How often are we blinded to the word of God? Our ears are closed to hear the word; and worse yet, we do not speak the Word of God. We must learn to open our hearts to hear the truth. We must “be opened” to hear God’s will. In today’s Gospel, the deaf man also has trouble speaking. Not only can he not hear Christ, he has a hard time talking to Christ. Christ reaches out to the man and places His fingers in the man’s ears. Once he is touched by Christ, his faith is awakened. The man becomes filled with the Holy Spirit and is able to hear. Jesus also connects with his stuttering by again placing his own spittle on the tongue of the man. Now he has Christ on his tongue and he is able to speak clearly so that others can understand him. We too should ask God to place his fingers in our ears so we can be opened to the Word of God and have His spittle placed on our tongue so that we can speak His Word clearly to others. In this Gospel reading, not only has Christ touched the deaf man, but he has also touched the crowd. The crowds response to His action – “He has done all things well.” The crowd is simply amazed at how Christ has reached out in a kind and caring fashion to help someone else. “He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Christ reached out with the purest of kindness and compassion – no strings attached. We too are called to reach out and help our neighbor when they are in need. We should do it in such a way as not to draw attention to ourselves nor the one we are helping. We should do it purely for the love of the other person.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, touch my ears so I may hear your word.

Unlock my tongue so I may spread your Gospel to others.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon