Ephphatha! Be Opened! (Homily for the 23rd Sunday)
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Ordinary Time, 23rd Sunday. Today’s Gospel miracle is also a parable. Jesus is travelling in pagan territory, outside the reach of the Word of God known by the Jewish people. The man cannot hear God clearly, and consequently cannot speak clearly either. Jesus takes him away from the crowd and unplugs his ears. Now he can hear God. In our second reading, James rebukes the people for not seeing clearly. They see the rich man as more important even though God chose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom. Our modern secular world is out of the realm of the Divine Word. How can we learn to hear God clearly? How can we learn to see as God sees?
I have two suggestions. First, we need to admit that we need help. We often hear what we want to hear. A good trip to Confession can open our ears to the voice of God. Second, read the Bible daily. The more you begin to read the Bible, the more you will understand it. The more you understand it, the more you will start to see the world the way God sees the world. As we become open to the ways of God, this is what we hear and see:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.
(9 Sep 2012)
Twelve Lessons on the Catholic Faith – by Fr. Benjamin Sember
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