Ord.Wk 23rd: Sunday 5th September, 2021 September 5, 2021

Reflection on the WORD

Miracles – Faith: In today’s Gospel, Jesus cured the deaf man, and the crowd was filled with awe. Ponder on, “Do we praise and thank God for the many miracles He has done and continues to do for us: protecting us from harm, healing us of hurts and illness; and blessing us abundantly, even as we are undeserving of them?” 

Mark 7:31-37

Returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, right through the Decapolis region. And they brought him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they asked him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, put his fingers into the man's ears and touched his tongue with spittle. Then looking up to heaven he sighed; and he said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’ And his ears were opened, and the ligament of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly. 

And Jesus ordered them to tell no one about it, but the more he insisted, the more widely they published it. Their admiration was unbounded.  ‘He has done all things well,’ they said ‘he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.’

Today's Pointers on God's Word

As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?

  • “Everything that Jesus does is good;” that was how He lived during His ministry.  Yet, the Jews crucified Him.  While He was doing the Father’s Will, He knew this outcome was inevitable. So, He drew strength from His Father.
  • •When we live the Truth of Christ, we too would find opposition, as many are not open to God’s Truth. People only want to live within their narrow understanding of what they understand as truth.
  • •Are we willing to serve God’s Truth and persevere in it?