READINGS:   Isaiah 35: 4-7   /   Psalm 146: 7. 8. 9-10   /   James 2: 1-5   /   MARK 7: 31-37

HIS WORD… 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!”

my words… Kailan kaya magkatagpo si Alden at Yaya Dub sa kalyeseryeng “#AlDub”? Ang sagot ni Lola Nidora, “sa tamang panahon.” This is also the case of the “Messianic Secret” of Jesus – to be revealed at the “proper time”. While the Messianic Secret is on, Jesus keep performing healing miracles to be kept “secret” but the healed ones cannot resist but proclaim it! Why? Simply because to be healed is an overflowing graces to be shared…

This is now the case of the deaf-mute healed by Jesus in today’s gospel. The deaf man who has a speech impediment must be able to receive the message of God’s love and grace, and in turn, communicate it or share it to others. With his disability (PWD), he was completely unable to communicate; but when Jesus healed him, he was made whole and was integrated into the community. The action of Jesus in healing the deaf-mute was an act of “re-creation”; He re-created him and became whole again, and was able to take part in the beauty of creation. The reaction and comment of the people, “He has done all things well” (Lk 7:37) echoed what God has done in the story of creation; at the end of each day of creation, God saw that everything He had made was “good”. The healed deaf-mute has become a new creation, for “with Jesus we have a new creation, a new life” (Fr. Gil A. Alinsangan, SSP. 365 Days with the Lord 2015, Sunday Reflections, September 6, 2015).

Brothers and Sisters, our Church today has given missionary attention to the deaf-mute in our society. The apostolate is to bring the Good News to them in sign language. We have observed especially in Television Masses, the presence of an “interpreter” who conveys in sign language the Word of God and the message of salvation. The interpreter is someone very adept at sign language and sees to it that what the Mass Celebrant says is faithfully conveyed to the deaf-mute audience, who readily reacts with their smiles and laughter, and in some cases, their tears. Most often we perceive them to be silent, but they are not. They are very open, sensitive, and responsive. They are even “very talkative” among themselves. They may not have the ability to use their tongues to communicate, but they are certainly able to convey their thoughts and feelings through sign language. Our deaf-mute brother and sisters have conquered the barriers of communication… And God loves them so much!

Brothers and Sisters, we may not be physically deaf and mute in our life, and thanks be to God for that… BUT, our moral and spiritual deafness and muteness can be more dangerous and more sinful than with those who are impaired physically. Our non-listening ears to the Word of God and being dumb to speak about the truths of life are certainly worse than those impaired and yet very enthusiastic to savor and crave the words of eternal life. If we may have those spiritual and moral disabilities, it is high time for us to come to Jesus and be healed, and internalize His powerful WORD, “Ephphatha” – that He too may open our ears and mouths to listen to Him and proclaim Him in our Christian lives.

“BE OPENED!” AND PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION… (By Fr. Julius C. Lupot)