Brought to Him

    

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

08 September 2024

 

First Reading: Is 35:4-7a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

Second Reading: Jas 2:1-5

Gospel: Mk 7:31-37

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

“There are three quickest ways to spread a rumor: through the internet, through the phone, and telling your mother.” This was one of the jokes I read during Mother’s Day. But because today is Mama Mary’s birthday, I would like to honor her with this reflection. I remember I was a shy little child and growing up, I would always ask my mother to tell people what I wanted to say. I would ask, “Can you tell teacher about my homework…?” or “Can you tell my classmate that I need my pencil back…?” I also run to her every time I have problems. Come to think of it, don’t we all desire to run to our mothers most of the time, especially when we need something?

My prayers would often include asking for the intercession of The Blessed Mother. Like the song goes, “Sa aking paglalakbay sa bundok ng buhay, Sa ligaya at lumbay, maging talang gabay.” I always ask her to guide me to her son. Not that I can’t pray to Jesus directly, but I believe it adds to essence and “back up”. It’s like how me and my siblings communicate sometimes. I would ask my mom, “Can you ask kuya to pick me up somewhere…?” or my mom will ask me on their behalf.

In the Gospel today, I was struck by how the people brought the deaf man to Jesus and begged to lay His hand on him. It reminded me of how my mother became my spokesperson when I had “speech impediment” because I can’t find the words to say what I want. Just like the people who brought the man to Jesus and begged Him, The Blessed Mother also does this for us. She builds a bridge, or becomes a bridge herself, and brings us to her son.

How many of us now are deaf about injustices and oppression, not because we chose not to listen, but because we have already become numb? How many of us now who can’t speak for ourselves and are in need of someone to stand up for us? I believe The Blessed Mother can help us in these times. There is also a saying, “Silence is golden. Unless you have kids, silence is suspicious." I imagine how The Blessed Mother suspects that in most of our silent moments, something is bothering us. Like a mother who always observes her children and is on the lookout for our concerns. I also believe she participates in the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, “the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; the lame will leap like a stag, the tongue of the mute will sing.” by bringing us to her son. Through The Blessed Mother, Jesus tells us “Ephphatha!”.

 

I also want to share another saying for my last point: “Nothing is really lost… until mom can’t find it.” Sometimes, I think mothers do a better job than Saint Anthony in finding things. I believe that The Blessed Mother constantly looks for us especially when we feel lost. For her, no one is really lost. We just need to be guided to the right path and be opened. Just like Saint Monica led her son, Saint Augustine, back to God, our hearts will be restless until we are brought to Jesus and rest our hearts in Him. We can always ask our Blessed Mother Mary to bring us to her son. Like another song goes, “Puso ko'y pahimlayin Inay, upang yaring hamog ng gabing tiwasay ay madama ko bilang damping halik ng 'yong Anak. Ay! Irog kong Inay.”

 

Prayer

Dear Lord, we ask for Your heavenly grace that this day may bring deeper peace to those whose hearts are deaf and mute. We ask the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary to tell her son our joys and sorrows, and whisper to Him that we love Him. Mariang aming ina, kay Kristong aming kapatid, akayin mo kami. AMEN.

Be opened!

Twenty-third Sunday in

Ordinary Time

5 September 2021 

 

First Reading: IS 35:4-7a

Responsorial Psalm: PS 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

Second Reading: JAS 2:1-5

Gospel: MK 7:31-37

 

Reflection

By: Theresa Ballo

 

How has the pandemic changed us? At some point, it cripples us. It made us feel more isolated, alone, and probably depressed. We cling on to hope, to faith, to God. Just like the man in today's Gospel. There are moments we are deaf, that we fail in listening to God's message amidst all this sickness and chaos around. There are days we are mute, keeping things we want to say to ourselves. We fear being bullied once we express an opinion on some pressing matters happening around us. The man in the Gospel represents us in so many ways.

Just like the deaf-mute man, we are disconnected. Less to no more physical interactions with relatives and friends. We have less opportunities to eat and drink together, make face-to-face conversations and feel someone's embrace. For people like me who are very visual, I'm having a difficulty making spiritual connections when attending online masses. Every Sunday night, as I lay myself to sleep, I wonder most of the time, what was Sunday's homily all about.

Just like the deaf-mute man, we are unable to express. The man's speech impedicament came from not being able to hear. In analogy, if we fail to listen to God's message, we will also have a hard time talking to God. Maybe some of you who are reading this can relate to me. I struggle to talk to God, praise Him, and share my thoughts nowadays.

Yet when people around brought the deaf-mute man, Jesus knew already about his illness. Similarly, Jesus knows we are suffering too. Jesus knows I am suffering. This sick man was brought to him by some people. In spite of his condition, there are still people around him who care enough. These people begged Jesus for the man's healing. Thus there are people in our life who cared about us and who are currently caring about you.

JESUS MEETS US WHERE WE ARE. In the Gospel, Jesus led the deaf-mute away from the crowd, had a private moment with him and healed him. Maybe that's why I was asked to do this month's Sunday reflections so He would have a reason to be with me. He knows that I cannot reflect and write in a noisy environment. He knows that for me to be able to do this, I have to stay late at night or at dawn, when most of the things around me are still. He meets where I can express myself--in writing. It gives me hope that soon, someday, one day, I'll be okay. You are too. If you are anyhow like me, not feeling at your best for the past weeks, you will be fine. Hang in there.

Only Jesus' mercy and power will all these viruses be gone, CoVid-19 virus and other viruses it brings such as indifference, selfishness, and lack of empathy. I look for the day that Jesus again will said, "Ephphatha", that is be opened! Instantly, the man could hear perfectly and speak plainly. There is hope. Faith gives us hope. Never let it go.

 

Prayer

 

Jesus, I hear You when You said to the deaf-mute man, be open! Unblock my ears so I can do more than just hearing. Give me grace to be nourished by Your words and the words of people I listened to. Open my heart that I may still show sensitivity to the suffering of others. Use my words to speak gratitude for your loving kindness always. Amen.

 

Be opened!

23rd Sunday In Ordinary Time
06 September 2015

First reading	Isaiah 35:4-7 ©

Say to all faint hearts,
‘Courage! Do not be afraid.
Look, your God is coming,
vengeance is coming,
the retribution of God;
he is coming to save you.’
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
the ears of the deaf unsealed,
then the lame shall leap like a deer
and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy;
for water gushes in the desert,
streams in the wasteland,
the scorched earth becomes a lake,
the parched land springs of water.

---

Psalm	Psalm 145:6-10 ©

My soul, give praise to the Lord.orAlleluia!It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
  who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
  the Lord, who sets prisoners free,
My soul, give praise to the Lord.orAlleluia!It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
  who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
  and upholds the widow and orphan.
My soul, give praise to the Lord.orAlleluia!It is the Lord who loves the just
  but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
  Zion’s God, from age to age.
My soul, give praise to the Lord.orAlleluia!

---

Second reading	James 2:1-5 ©

My brothers, do not try to combine faith in Jesus Christ, our glorified Lord, with the making of distinctions between classes of people. Now suppose a man comes into your synagogue, beautifully dressed and with a gold ring on, and at the same time a poor man comes in, in shabby clothes, and you take notice of the well-dressed man, and say, ‘Come this way to the best seats’; then you tell the poor man, ‘Stand over there’ or ‘You can sit on the floor by my foot-rest.’ Can’t you see that you have used two different standards in your mind, and turned yourselves into judges, and corrupt judges at that?
  Listen, my dear brothers: it was those who are poor according to the world that God chose, to be rich in faith and to be the heirs to the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.

---

Gospel Acclamation	1S3:9,Jn6:68

Alleluia, alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:
you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!

Or	cf.Mt4:23

Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom
and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.
Alleluia!

---

Gospel	Mark 7:31-37 ©

Returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, right through the Decapolis region. And they brought him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they asked him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue with spittle. Then looking up to heaven he sighed; and he said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And his ears were opened, and the ligament of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly. And Jesus ordered them to tell no one about it, but the more he insisted, the more widely they published it. Their admiration was unbounded. ‘He has done all things well,’ they said ‘he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.’

Reflection:

On this Sunday, we continue to hear the Gospel of Mark proclaimed. This is a story about Jesus' healing power. He heals a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment.

Also, today is the first Sunday of September. The “ber” months have started! Christmas is just around the corner, hear the carols on the radio soon. This early we can go on “linis bahay (house cleaning)” mode, i.e., unloading and emptying ourselves of sin and bad habits, so that there will be room for God in our hearts. Let us throw away shameful “baggages” that we have kept and accumulated through the years.

Let me share a story about a man who pretended to be deaf/mute to get people to pity him and give him money. The doctors could not find anything wrong with his ears even though he lived the life of a deaf and a mute man.

A massive search was launched after this man was reported missing from his home. After few days, his body was found in a ditch just 150 meters from his front door. The investigator said: "Either he didn't hear or didn't want to hear a speeding car coming. He was hit by the vehicle, fell to the ditch, slipped and drowned.”

Let us examine our “ears” in our journey to God’s heart. Are they new? Are they functioning at all or do we sometimes get “deaf”? Do we pretend that we cannot hear like the man in the story? Are our ears impaired by power, ambitions, and self-interests that we lose our soul in the process? And so focused on our problems that many of us fail to listen to the calling of our mission?

If we listen intently to the Lord in our prayer, we will end up not being uncaring, proud, imposing undesirable moods and traits to other people. If our relationship with the Lord has not made us a kinder and humble person, our spirituality then is just a make believe, a fantasy.

And as we travel our journey in life, let us proclaim the goodness of the Lord. Be a blessing to other people.

Prayer:

Lord, as You opened the ears of the deaf man, open our ears to hear the cries of the poor. As You removed the speech difficulty of the deaf man, give us the grace to speak of Your love to others. Let Your light penetrate into us, transforming ourselves and our attitude towards others. Amen.

Easy For Him

 First Reading: Is 35:4-7a

Thus says the LORD:

Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

Second Reading: Jas 2:1-5

My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Sit here, please, " while you say to the poor one, "Stand there, " or "Sit at my feet, " have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?

Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

Gospel: Mk 7:31-37

Again 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."

Reflection

By Cris Balla

The passage from Isaiah is a narration of the future; after all, he was a prophet. He asks those whose hearts are frightened to be strong for a Savior is coming. "Thus says the LORD: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, He comes with vindication; with divine recompense He comes to save you." Then the Gospel reading tells of the miracle Jesus performed on a deaf-mute. This miracle is a very specific confirmation of what Isaiah foretold many hundreds of years before the time of Jesus.

The story starts with Jesus traveling to Decapolis. (I did some wiki-reading about the Decapolis - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decapolis - and it was apparently a 10-city federation around the Sea of Galilee). There in Decapolis, He was asked to heal a deaf-mute, and so He performed a miracle.

I think there are a number of learning for me in this Gospel reading.  First, I think that God listens and responds appropriately when we ask Him for something. In the Gospel, Jesus obliges when He was asked by the people. He did not deny them the healing of the deaf-mute when they "begged Him to lay His hand on him"... So, let's ask Him. And let's not be abashed for He is our Father after all. And am sure He will answer our prayers. It is easy for Him to grant our prayers.

Imagine how apparently easy for Jesus to perform the miracle. "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!".

Apparently easy, but if we put some emphasis on (1) His act of taking the man away from the crowd and then (2) His gesture of looking up to heaven, I think we can also deduce that He was probably praying to God when He looked up to heaven, and so He took the man away from the noise of the crowd so He can pray and talk to His Father in a more conducive setting.

So my second learning is that we should pray. And when we pray, we must concentrate, away from distraction, away from the "noise" and the clutters of our lives. After all, even the Son of God has to pray to the Father, and when He prayed, He wanted an environment that did not interfere to His praying.

My third learning is from this same snippet: We need assistance of God. When Jesus prayed, He was probably asking for His Father's assistance. I believe that He can do it alone, but He chose to ask assistance. By this gesture, I think He is teaching us to recognize that we need assistance from the Father too. That our own abilities and all our education are insufficient to face the challenges in our lives.

So, let's go ahead and ask; we shall receive :) And then "He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it"… Good deeds cannot forever go unnoticed, and so the people themselves proclaimed His deeds. And so my last take-away is a reminder that "Actions speak louder than words".

Have a great day!

Prayer:

Father, like Jesus, please make it easy for us to pay attention to people who needs our healing touch. Help us in bringing more people closer to Your embrace as we try to nurture an intimate relationship with You.