Be open!
This Sunday’s Gospel tells us of Jesus traveling through the region of the Decapolis, a largely Gentile area, where people bring to him a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. They beg Jesus to lay his hand on him. Jesus takes the man aside from the crowd, places his fingers in the man's ears, and touches his tongue with his own saliva. He then looks up to heaven, sighs deeply, and says, “Ephphatha,” meaning "Be opened." Immediately, the man’s ears are opened, and he begins to speak clearly. Though Jesus asks the people to keep this miracle quiet, they cannot help but spread the news of his deeds.
The word ephphatha is powerful not only in the immediate context of the man's physical healing but also symbolically. This command from Jesus is a call for spiritual openness. We, too, are called to open our ears to God's word and our hearts to his love. Often, we are deafened by the noise of the world, our prejudices, and our fears. Jesus invites us to be open to his grace, which can heal our spiritual deafness and loosen our tongues to proclaim his goodness. The man’s healing is followed by an immediate reaction from the people; despite Jesus’ instructions to keep quiet, they proclaim what they have seen. This mirrors the Christian life: once we have encountered the transformative power of Christ, we cannot keep it to ourselves. Our lives should become a testimony to his healing power, drawing others to him through our witness.
The setting of this miracle in the Decapolis, a Gentile region, underscores that Jesus’ mission is not limited to the Jewish people but extends to all nations. The healing of the deaf and mute man symbolizes the opening of the Gospel to the Gentiles, showing that the Good News of salvation is for everyone. This challenges us to reflect on our own openness to those who are different from us, encouraging us to embrace and share the Gospel with all people.
In our lives, we are called to respond to Jesus' invitation to "be opened." This means listening more attentively to God's voice in our daily lives, whether through prayer, Scripture, or the sacraments. It also means being open to the needs of others, responding with compassion and action as Jesus did. Lastly, it challenges us to be bold witnesses to the Gospel, not keeping our faith private, but letting it shine forth in our words and deeds. Let us ask for the grace to be truly open to God's will, to the needs of our neighbors, and to the mission of spreading the Good News. May our ears be opened to hear God's word, and may our tongues be loosened to proclaim his love to the world.
Buon Viaggio Father Troy!
Father Troy’s two month stay with us here at CTK is at its end. He departs on Monday for some personal and family time before heading back to Rome to finish his advanced studies in dogmatic theology. I am grateful for his presence at the altar as well as the camaraderie that he brought to me and Father Alex. We wish him safe travels, the best in his studies, and God’s grace and blessing in all things.
Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead!
Father Chris House