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Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Mark 7.31-37
Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’
Reflection
Jesus said to the deaf man who had an impediment in his speech: ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’
I recently heard a famous author being interviewed about his work. One of the questions the interviewer asked was about how that author had begun his journey towards being published. The writer’s response was, I suspect, quite typical of those who have found favour with the public through the stories they construct and tell. He talked about his inner conviction that he could write, and his feelings of insecurity. He talked of all the advice he had received, and all the books on technique he had read. Then he talked of the day he was sitting at his desk feeling bored. It was then that he realised that he had to set aside all the advice, all the reading and all the fear, and just get on with it. On that day he picked up a pen and started writing.
Today we hear of a man who was deaf and who also suffered from a speech impediment. We know nothing of that man’s history. We do not even know his name. But, we do know that others, we might presume his friends, brought him to Jesus for healing. We also know that Jesus did open his ears and free his tongue with the words: Ephphatha … Be opened.Then we are told of the story that that man, and his companions, had to tell. Despite Jesus ordering them to tell no one, they zealously proclaimed what had happened. Their faith in coming to Jesus was rewarded, and then it found voice as they proclaimed the Good News to all.Too often we are like the tongue-tied author and the deaf man whose speech was also impaired. We know that we are called to proclaim the Good News, to tell the story of Jesus Christ, but we remain silent. We describe our reluctance to preach and teach as faithful disciples as ‘writer’s block’, or ‘shyness’, or even the ‘calling of others’. But these are just excuses. We all have a best-selling and life-affirming and changing story to tell. Even if we do not consider ourselves to be accomplished writers or speakers, we are called to tell the story of Christ in our own words. We are all called to listen carefully as Jesus says to us: Ephphatha … Be opened, and then we are called to proclaim that Good News from the rooftops!
Prayers
In peace, let us pray to Jesus our Lord,
who ever lives to make intercession for us.
Saviour of the world,
be present in all places of suffering, violence and pain,
and bring hope even in the darkest night.
Inspire us to continue your work of reconciliation today.
Lord of the Church,
empower by your Spirit all Christian people,
and the work of your Church in every land.
Give us grace to proclaim the gospel joyfully in word and deed.
Shepherd and Guardian of our souls,
guide and enable all who lead and serve this community
and those on whom we depend for our daily needs.
Grant that we may seek the peace and welfare of this place.
Great Physician,
stretch out your hand to bring comfort, wholeness and peace
to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit.
Fill us with compassion, that we may be channels of
your healing love.
Conqueror of death,
remember for good those whom we love but see no longer.
Help us to live this day in the sure and certain hope of
your eternal victory.
Let us commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray,
to the mercy and protection of God.
Eternal God,
whose Son went among the crowds
and brought healing with his touch:
help us to show his love,
in your Church as we gather together,
and by our lives as they are transformed
into the image of Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord bless us and watch over us,
the Lord make his face shine upon us
and be gracious to us,
the Lord look kindly on us
and give us peace;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.