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
He has done all things well.
It is easy to cry out with amazement and marvel at the miracles. Christ is our human role model as well. When we try to follow God, do we spend our time imitating Christ or do we "wing it". Jesus was a carpenter, He learned from St Joseph. He must have been a good carpenter, in fact the best, since He does all things well. His ordinary existence was spent in Nazareth during His hidden life.
And now He is calling us to become His disciples. To spread the good news amidst the culture of today. And He wants it to be done well. Could we say that people know us by the quality of our work? We are reminded that our work, offered up to God, is associated with the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. He ennobled the dignity of work.
No need to be discouraged if our work is not the best: as long as we work well, work hard and use our time well. Faith, trust and obedience in God and allowing Him to work in us and through us will help us grow in His image.
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