A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 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." The Gospel of the Lord

REFLECTION: He put his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue

We all long for good health. Jesus identifies with our infirmities. In the gospel reading, Jesus is involved physically in the healing of man. He physically communicated the invisible power of God.

"The Spirit is called the finger of God" according to St Gregory the Great. ."When the Lord puts his fingers into the ears of the deaf mute, he was opening the soul of man to faith through the gifts of the Holy Spirit."

We are called to hope in our salvation and to have absolute confidence in the Lord. But we are the deaf man --our ears are closed to the word of God. We are dumb when communicating the word of God to others.

Let us not be silent when given the opportunity at work , home , church or school of showing God's love, compassion and kindness to others.

PRAYER: Come, let us be open to the finger of God and open our hearts, minds, tongues and ears. Let us not be silent or deaf when God wants to say so much through our words or actions. Amen

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