9th of February (English)

Gospel text

(Mc 7,31-37): 

Again Jesus set out; from the country of Tyre, passed through Sidon and, skirting the sea of Galilee, he came to the territory of Decapolis. There a deaf man who also had difficulty in speaking was brought to him. They asked Jesus to lay his hand upon him. Jesus took him apart from the crowd, put his fingers into the man's ears and touched his tongue with spittle. Then, looking up to heaven, he groaned and said to him, «Epheta», that is, be opened. 

And his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly. Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone, but the more he insisted on this, the more they proclaimed it. The people were completely astonished and said, «He has done all things well; he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak».

The Application

There are three elements in today’s gospel for our imitation. First the generosity of the people and their desire to bring this person towards Jesus. We have to ask ourselves, do we have the same generosity, the willingness to bring all those who are in need of Jesus, towards this saviour who can save all?

The second one is the way Jesus does his ministry. Though the essential ministry is not physical healing, Jesus never hesitate to take a step further to reach to the needs of the people. He desires to open our ignorance and consciousness. He wishes that we see ourselves the wonders that the Lord does, not only in the paste, but even today and after. In everything, Jesus gives Himself fully and the best. He continues to do the same to us. All that we need to do is, to approach this redeemer and saviour, who is generous in giving.

The third part is our own attitude in our personal and social life. Let us look at this healed person and the way he has acted after being healed. He announces gladly all that he has received from the Lord. We too have received plenty from the Lord. Do we announce this generosity of the Lord? Do we realise that the Lord is generous in forgiving us and are we ready to forgive others? Do we realise the inner freedom that the Lord has accorded to us, directly or indirectly? And what have we done………..? Saint Paul says that announcing this generosity of the Lord is not simply a mission confined to him, rather a necessity and he can’t justly live without announcing this desire of God to save us. And we………………and what are you going to do today?

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: 

The touch of the Lord, by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

"That power which may not be handled came down and clothed itself in members that may be touched, that the desperate may draw near to him, that in touching his humanity they may discern his divinity. For that speechless man the Lord healed with the fingers of his body. He put his fingers into the man's ears and touched his tongue. At that moment with fingers that may be touched, he touched the Godhead that may not be touched. Immediately this loosed the string of his tongue (Mark 7:32-37), and opened the clogged doors of his ears. For the very architect of the body itself and artificer of all flesh had come personally to him, and with his gentle voice tenderly opened up his obstructed ears. Then his mouth which had been so closed up that it could not give birth to a word, gave birth to praise him who made its barrenness fruitful. The One who immediately had given to Adam speech without teaching, gave speech to him so that he could speak easily a language that is learned only with difficulty (Genesis 1:27-28). (excerpt from HOMILY ON OUR LORD 10.3)

«He has done all things well»

Fr. Joan MARQUÉS i Suriñach 
(Vilamarí, Girona, Spain)

Today, the Gospel presents us with a miracle of Jesus: he makes the deaf hear and the mute speak. The people was astonished and said: «He has done all things well» (Mk 7:37). 

This is Jesus' biography as narrated by his contemporaries. A short but complete biography. Who is this Jesus? He is who has done all things well. In the double sense of the word: in the what and the how, in the substance and the manner. He is who has only done good deeds, and who has done them well, perfectly and properly finished. Jesus is a person that does everything well, because He does only good works, and those He does, He delivers well finished. He does not leave anything unfinished; nor does He leave it to be finished later on. 

—Why don't you also try to leave everything ready now: your prayers; treating your family and other people; your work; the apostolate; your diligence to develop yourself both spiritually and professionally... Be demanding with yourself, and be also demanding, softly, but demanding, with those depending upon you. Do not tolerate any shoddiness. God dislikes them and they bother your fellowmen. Do not take this attitude just to pretend, nor because this procedure is the most profitable one, even from a human point of view; do it because God does not like “bad” works nor “good” things done badly. The Holy Scripture asserts: «The works of God are perfect» (Deut 32:4). And the Lord, through Moses, tells the People of Israel: «Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf» (Lev 22:20). Ask for the maternal help of the Virgin Mary, as Jesus also did.

Saint Josemaria offers us the secret to succeed: «Do what you should and watch what you do». Is this how you behave?