𝑳𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒚 | Sunday Gospel Reflection | 08 Sept 2024 with Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

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OPEN OUR HEARTS, LORD
By Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

Someone said that we, senior citizens, belong to the “Ha?!” generation. Why? Because whenever somebody says something to us, most likely, our immediate response is “Ha?!” And that’s because we are hard of hearing.
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In today’s Gospel (Mark 7:31-37), Jesus healed a deaf man with a speech impediment. His healing was immediate and total. “And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.” The crowd was astonished by the miracle. Let us ask the Lord today to heal us in our hearing and speaking, for we hear but not listen, we speak but our words are empty and have no meaning.
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The beneficiary of the healing was a foreigner, a Gentile, whose kind was looked down upon by the Jews who thought that salvation was exclusive to them. Jesus’ healing was unconditional. What a consolation to know that our God is the God of all and that God’s love is not limited by anything or anyone. We should not, we cannot control God. God is in control of everything and of everyone.
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“Ephphatha! (Be opened!)” There is nothing that God cannot open. There is no knot that God cannot untie. There is no traffic that God cannot unsnarl! Is there anything that has imprisoned you or has locked you in any way? Open your heart and pray. Nothing is impossible with God. He will find a way. He will make a way!
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I have a friend who is a locksmith. He can open any lock, any