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 ordered them not to tell anyone.
Jesus did not need the people of the Decapolis (Gentile territory) to be preaching for Him. How can one outdo God made man? They were not ready to proclaim their faith.
Did they have true knowledge of Jesus, the incarnate God, or did they simply see someone who healed and were impressed because He did it well? Were they merely gawkers and onlookers, who did not know God?
To be able to proclaim the Word, our encounter with the living God is based on faith, a gift from God. It is not based solely on what He has accomplished to alleviate our ills. The faith of the Syrophoenician mother and her possessed daughter, the faith of the people who brought the deaf man to Jesus are such examples of how God listens to our pleas.
If you know someone, you have certain expectations. Do you approach them with fear and doubt, hate and uncertainty, or faith and confidence?
God is good and beautiful and welcomes all who approach Him in trust and sincerity. Our faith tells us to surrender all to God. All.
The Lord treats us all with love, kindness and compassion. Do we treat others the same way, or do we expect something in return?
Jesus and the saints are our role models. Love and compassion have been present for eternity, they do not change with political views, social mores, our personal opinions, lot in life, our wishes and whims.
PAPA has FACE ZBS (Bible study via zoom with our spiritual advisor and theologian, Father Michael ) every Wednesday. Express your interest and we can send you information how to join us. We not only learn objectively the Word of God but through inspired text, revelation and explanation we are on the road of developing a personal relationship with our Creator and Savior.
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