HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

“Ephphatha!…Be opened!” —Mark 7:34

Jesus took the deaf man “off by himself away from the crowd” (Mk 7:33). Jesus moved the man away from chaos, disorder, skepticism, peer pressure, and negativity. This peace was the environment in which full healing could best be done.

So many people listen to everything but the Lord. Particularly, people listen to the voice of the evil one (Gn 3:1ff). In the present-day secular culture, the voice of evil resounds, twisting and redefining God’s good and holy order. The kingdom of darkness calls “evil good, and good evil” (Is 5:20). The secular culture opposes God and His kingdom (see Gal 5:17). When people hear this propaganda long enough, they believe it and oppose God as well.

In yesterday’s Mass readings, we read that God created marriage as a union between one man and one woman (Gn 2:21-24). The secular culture attempts to redefine marriage to twist, pervert, and oppose God’s plan. Earlier this week, the Mass readings revealed that God created man and woman (Gn 1:27) in His divine image. The secular culture, at the prompting of the evil one, twists and confuses gender identity and thus many are now deaf to their own role in God’s plan. Many are confused because they have listened to the devil rather than to God.

Let Jesus take you off by yourself with Him alone (Mk 7:33). Jesus wants to touch your ears and open them to His Good News. Block out Satan’s lies. Listen to the Lord and be healed. Let everyone who has ears hear the Lord (Mk 4:9).

Prayer: Father, make me deaf to all that opposes You. Open my ears to hear You and You alone.

Promise: “He has done everything well! He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!” —Mk 7:37

Praise: St. Scholastica founded a religious community five miles from the monastery of her brother, St. Benedict.