(Note: No slice posted yesterday; no explanation, no solution yet. Working on it.)
Mark 7: 31-37
Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
In so many ways, our tongues, our thoughts, our desires, are tied by fear or lack of faith, yet we see how easy it is to get the help we need from Jesus. Just ASK! We might say that we've tried that,and nothing has happened. The people had seen Jesus cure others and were sure and with deep faith believed he could and would help this man. Perhaps our first step should be to ask Jesus to open our hearts to a deeper, more solid faith, then entrust him with our request.
Interestingly enough, this Gospel passage comes to us on the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. Just the word, Lourdes, conjures up miraculous healings that have occurred for well over a century. Illnesses of the body, or soul are still being cured, reinforcing our faith that miracles still happen. Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief!
Bro.. Rene
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