Fr. Jeff’s Weekly Homily

September 10, 2006
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

READING 1: Isaiah 35: 4-7
Thus says the Lord, Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!

Psalm 146
Praise the Lord my Soul!
The God of Jacob keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free.

READING 2: James 2:1-5
My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL: 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.”

St. Paul wrote, “My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus said to the deaf man with the speech impediment, “Ephphatha!”—that is, “be opened!” What are you hearing in these inspired messages?

I go downtown for dinner and a derelict, reeking of booze and filth, asking people for handouts, approaches. I think I’ll cross the street here.

Ephphatha!—be opened!

She’s not a bad kid, but for some reason she’s been condemned to the outside, to the purgatory of the uncool and unpopular. I am in middle school and have enough to worry about. I decide not to be mean, so I say a quick “hi!” and keep moving.

Ephphatha!—be opened!

A mother was planning a birthday party for her six-year-old son, Thomas. She wanted to protect him from the social consequences of inviting Jason, an unpopular child, to the party. Jason stuttered, so he was constantly teased, often cruelly. But Mom realized that her son had to make the decision on his own. Mom was pleasantly surprised to discover that her son not only could take care of himself but also stick up for his friend. When other boys at the party started making fun of Jason, her son, Thomas, said: “He doesn't talk funny. You listen funny.”

Ephphatha!—be opened!

Fr. Jeff McGowan
Queen of Peace Catholic Community
Gainesville, Florida