Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
 
My dear Parish members and Friends in Jesus Christ,
             All the readings of today invite us to open our ears to hear the word of God and to loosen our tongues to speak the good news.  The gospel we heard the story of healing of the deaf man who also has a kind of speech impediment and was brought to Jesus by his friends. Jesus takes the man aside, puts his finger into the man’s ears and touches his tongue. Jesus prays over him and used an Aramaic word “Ephphatha” means “be opened”. The man is able to hear immediately and his tongue is released and he is able to speak plainly. This blessing was a double blessing for this man. His blindness and deafness isolated him from the society. But now he is back to the society. This is the good news – a message of hope – how deeply God cares for us-our family and children-even in our physical ailments-spiritual healings he freely offers to us in every sacrifice of the Mass.
                    
         In the gospel Mark tells us that Jesus took the man off by himself, away from the crowd”. Here Jesus uses the traditional gestures of healing-putting his fingers in the man’s ears and touching his tongue. For Mark, the evangelist the healing of the deaf and blind man clearly signals the arrival of the messianic age, as prophesied by Isaiah, “Here is your God. He is coming to heal you and save you” (Isaiah: 35-4).

             Today we are called not to be deaf to the message of the gospel. Jesus in a very personal way wants to take each one of us aside and minister to all our inabilities to hear and speak the good news. We are initiated into Christ and in His mission through our baptism. We are reminded every time, “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear, the dumb speak. May He soon touch your ears to receive His word and your mouth to proclaim His faith to praise and glorify God, the Father”. We are charged to receive the word and proclaim it. The Lord wants us to continue His mission in our society and nation to bring hope, love, joy and peace. Christ has called us to be light and salt of earth. May our light shine before all, that they may see the good that we do and give glory to God.

Let us pray,
Almighty God,
every good thing comes from you.
Fill our hearts with love for you,
increase our faith,
and by your constant care
protect the good you have given us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
– Amen.

 May the good Lord be with us and bless us,
Father Valley