Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Weekly Intention: For all caregivers, especially teachers, that they may be attentive to the Holy Spirit’s inspirations to work as bringers of strength and hope to all who they serve.
Today’s Gospel | Mark 7:31-37
Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
From the Seventh Meditation for the Time of Retreat | St. John Baptist de La Salle
The reason that Saint Paul gives for this is that God’s secret plan was unveiled to him. He had received the grace of unveiling to the nations the incomprehensible riches of Jesus Christ, so that those who previously were deprived of Jesus Christ and were strangers to the covenant of God, without hope in his promises, now belong to Jesus Christ and are strangers no longer. They have become fellow citizens with the saints and servants of God’s household. They are the structure that has been built on the foundation of the Apostles and raised up by Jesus Christ. They have become the sanctuary where God dwells through his Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son came that we all might have life to the full. For many of us, there is a need for healing, for a restoration to wholeness of body, mind, and spirit. May we have the faith to ask for this grace, and the humility to receive it with grateful hearts. Open our senses to the wonders of your presence, and strengthen our hands and feet to do your work and to walk as true disciples. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts forever.