Gospel Reading for February 14, 2025 – Mark 7: 31-37
EXTRA EFFORT
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.”
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Not all who are deaf are mute, same as not all who are mute are deaf. The man in the gospel was able to speak plainly after his ears were opened by Jesus. Whatever the cause of his deafness and speech impediment at the same time, Jesus’ way of healing him was very different from others who were sick. He removed him from the crowd, put his finger into his ears, and spitting, touched his tongue. But the most intriguing part, was his groaning and looking up to heaven. Why did Jesus do that? Was he emphasizing something to us?
It is always a big challenge to make a “deaf” person listen. However or whatever way we may try to make the person listen to the Word of God, if he/she chooses to be deaf, we need to make EXTRA EFFORT. Jesus made sure that the man would be able to hear and speak plainly afterwards. Those of us who try to make a person listen to the Word of God should not give up. The EXTRA EFFORT we have to make is – when we ourselves, listen to, and live, the Word of God.
Lord, may we never be deaf to your Word, because we are sure it will make our lives good and meaningful in the midst of challenges, and it will be our chance to enter heaven!
