Fifth Friday of Ordinary Time

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!”)

Christ’s healing of this deaf man reveals an intimacy of action toward him. Jesus brings this man away from everyone else, touches his ear and tongue, and calls out to heaven on his behalf, revealing how much God loves each one of His children. He takes a personal stake in our lives and is willing to heal us of all of our imperfections and sins if only we will go with him and leave the world and its crowds behind. He will open us to his Word and if we accept it we will be able to speak plainly the Gospel through our actions. We have a wonderful savoir in Jesus and we should be ever thankful for his tenderness toward us in the midst of our afflictions.

What deafens us to the call of the Word of God? What keeps us from preaching the Good News to those who are around us? Have we ever meditated upon our personal relationship with Jesus and how it reveals His love for us each and every day?

O Lord, let us be open to your Word.

Amen.