8 Sept

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 8 Sept

He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak

Collect: O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption, look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters, that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance. Through our Lord …

Readings:
Isa 35:4-7
Ps 145:7-10
Js 2:1-5
Gospel: Mk 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.’’

He has done all things well

Jesus took aside a deaf mute and, after making some symbolic gestures, raised his eyes to Heaven and said to him: “”Ephphatha’, that is, “Be opened'”. At that moment, the Evangelist says, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue released, and he spoke plainly. Jesus’ gestures are full of loving attention and express deep compassion for the man who stood before him. The Lord showed the deaf man his concrete concern, drew him aside from the confusion of the crowd, made him feel his closeness and understanding by several gestures full of meaning. He placed his fingers in his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. He then invited him to turn his interior gaze, that of his heart, together with him to the heavenly Father. Finally, he healed him and restored him to his family, to his people, and the crowd, marvelling, could only exclaim: “He has done all things well.

Pope Benedict XVI

Conference for health-care workers, 2009

Saints this week

• Mon 9 – St. Peter Claver
• Thu 12 – The Most Holy Name of Mary
• Fri 13 – St. John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor
• Sat 14 – The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Feast

St. John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom, most prominent doctor of the Greek Church, born in Antioch, ca. 347. Despite growing up in troubled times, with political upheaval in the Roman Empire and schisms in the Church, John had a very good education. He was baptised at about 23 years of age, soon after became a monk and tried living as a hermit in a cave, but with his health ruined, he had to return to Antioch. Later he was ordained a priest where his outstanding sermons earned him the nickname “Chrysostomos” (Greek for “Golden mouth,”). In 398, after the death of the bishop of Constantinople, John was sent there to be his successor in this complex, half western, half eastern metropolis, which was in much need of reform. This was a big and unexpected task but it was famously said that Chrysostom began “sweeping the stairs from the top,” disciplining the episcopate and clergy first, then the monks and consecrated people and finally the laity. Of course, he made many enemies and suffered persecutions, he was even exiled to Pontus (today Turkey) where, on 14 September, 407, he died due to the harsh conditions. Notably, people greatly mourned his death.

St. John Chrysostom, pray for us

Next Sunday Readings (24th in Ordinary Time)

1. Isa 50:5-9
2. Ps 114:1-6,8-9
3. 2:14-18
4. Mk 8:27-35