A reading from the gospel according to Mark 7:31-37
31 Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis.
32 And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him.
33 He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue;
34 then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” – that is, “Be opened!”
35 And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.
36 He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.
37 They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Reflection 1: Be Opened
Good News: Jesus has done all things well.
People brought a deaf man to Jesus for healing. Many good things happen to us because some people cared for us or prayed for us. May we be those kinds of people that God uses to perform miracles. Even through prayers, we can bring the sick to God for healing.
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Jesus took the deaf away from the crowd. Let us understand that Jesus is not a celebrity who relies on the number of people who applaud for him. His mission of healing is not for show. Do we perform our mission only when the camera is on?
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Jesus looked up to heaven before he performed the miracle. Jesus shows us to always depend on the power of God because apart from Him, we can do nothing.
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“Ephphatha!” or “Be opened!” With these words, Jesus made the deaf hear and the mute speak. In faith, let us pray that Jesus do the same thing to us so we can hear His voice and open our mouth to spread the greatness and mercy of God to others. In fact, many times we are deaf and we cannot hear God calling us to repent and to go back to Him. Many times we are mute and we cannot speak the Word of God to others or even to witness for His generosity to us. There is indeed such a thing as spiritual speech impediment! May all followers of Jesus be able to “speak plainly” of the Good News of salvation.
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Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone because He does not want to suffer and die early at the hands of jealous and fearful authorities. Moreover, He does not want people to be confused very early about His role as the Messiah whom they were waiting. Yet, the people cannot contain their excitement to talk about this amazing work.
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Indeed Jesus is merciful to us. He does all things well for His people who need help. Jesus is alive and He can make us see, hear and speak about greatness and love. May we be opened to His invitation to listen and follow Him.
Reflection 2: The deaf hear and the mute speak
God gave us two ears for hearing and a mouth for speaking. How do we use them? What voices do we hear? What kind of words do we utter? Many times we use our organs such as ears and mouth to commit sin and thereby separate us from God. It would have been better to be deaf and mute. Yet, what kind of world we live in if our ears cannot hear and our mouth cannot speak!
In today’s world, the advance of science has allowed people with hearing and speech impediments to live normally. What about those who are spiritually deaf? They hear but do not understand (Isaiah 6:9). Only the Holy Spirit can help them. Likewise, our mouth may function well but we choose to speak evil rather than courageously proclaim the goodness of the Lord.
Jesus is our hope. May we allow Him to touch and open our ears to hear His voice and also our mouth to boldly speak His words to others, and to testify for all the good things He has done. More importantly, may we open our hearts to receive Him and allow Him to change our lives that we may be more and more like Him.
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In this Gospel reading, we encounter Jesus in the region of the Decapolis, where people bring to Him a man who is deaf and can hardly speak. Moved by compassion, Jesus takes the man aside, away from the crowd, and performs a miracle that opens his ears and loosens his tongue. The man is suddenly able to hear and speak clearly. The onlookers are astonished, exclaiming, “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
This passage is a powerful reminder of Jesus’ deep concern for those who are marginalized and overlooked. The man’s condition had likely isolated him from society, making communication and relationships difficult. Yet, in Jesus, he finds someone who not only sees his need but also responds with a personal and transformative touch.
Jesus’ actions in this story highlight the importance of intimacy in healing. He doesn’t just heal from a distance; He engages with the man personally, touching his ears and tongue, looking up to heaven, and sighing deeply before speaking the words, “Ephphatha,” meaning “Be opened.” This profound interaction signifies that healing is not just about physical restoration but about spiritual and emotional renewal as well.
The miracle is also a metaphor for our spiritual lives. How often are we spiritually deaf, unable to hear God’s voice amidst the noise of the world? How often do we find ourselves unable to speak words of life and truth because our tongues are bound by fear, doubt, or sin? Jesus’ command to “Be opened” is an invitation to all of us to allow Him to open our ears to His guidance and to loosen our tongues so that we might speak His truth boldly and lovingly.
This passage challenges us to reflect on areas in our lives where we need to be opened to God’s healing touch. Are there places where we have been deaf to His calling or silent when we should have spoken out? Jesus’ willingness to heal and restore is as present today as it was in the Decapolis. Let us come to Him with faith, allowing Him to open our ears to His voice and our mouths to proclaim His goodness.
In a world filled with noise and confusion, may we, like the man in the Decapolis, experience the transformative power of Jesus, and may we declare with joy, “He has done everything well.”
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A deaf man with a speech impediment is brought to Jesus, and the people beg Him to heal him. Jesus takes the man aside, touches his ears and tongue, looks up to heaven, and says, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened.” Immediately, the man’s ears are opened, and he begins to speak clearly.
This passage is more than just another miracle. It is a powerful message about transformation, faith, and the deep compassion of Christ. Let’s reflect on three key lessons we can learn from this story.
1. Jesus Meets Us Personally
When the deaf man is brought to Jesus, He does something unusual—He takes him aside, away from the crowd. This personal touch reminds us that Jesus does not treat us as just part of a group. He sees each of us individually, understands our struggles, and ministers to us in a personal way.
Sometimes, in the busyness of life, we may feel lost in the crowd, as if our struggles are insignificant. But Jesus cares deeply. He knows our silent battles, our hidden pain, and our unspoken prayers. Just as He took the deaf man aside, He wants to have personal moments with us, healing us in ways we may not even expect.
Are we taking time to step aside and be alone with Jesus? Do we allow Him to touch the areas of our lives that need healing?
2. Be Open to God’s Work
The word “Ephphatha” is powerful. Jesus wasn’t just opening the man’s ears physically. He was demonstrating the spiritual truth that God wants to open hearts, minds, and lives to His presence.<.p>
There are times when we become spiritually deaf. We hear sermons, read the Bible, and listen to wise advice, but our hearts remain closed. We may have wounds, disappointments, or doubts that make us resistant to God’s voice. Like the deaf man, we need Jesus to say to us, “Be opened.”
Is there an area of your life where you have shut God out? Are you struggling to hear His guidance, His comfort, or His correction? Pray that Jesus will open your heart to His voice and His will.
3. Speak with Clarity and Purpose
After Jesus healed the man, he “spoke plainly.” His speech was no longer impaired. This reminds us that when God works in our lives, He not only opens our ears to hear Him but also loosens our tongues to speak for Him.
How often do we remain silent when we should be speaking words of encouragement, truth, or faith? How often do we let fear or insecurity keep us from sharing what God has done in our lives? When Jesus heals us, He also calls us to testify of His goodness.
Let’s use our voices wisely — to build others up, to share God’s love, and to proclaim His power.
The people who witnessed this miracle were amazed, saying, “He has done everything well!” (Mark 7:37). This is the nature of Jesus. He does all things well. When He enters our lives, He brings healing, renewal, and transformation.
If you feel spiritually deaf, let Jesus open your ears to His voice. If you feel hesitant to speak, ask Him to give you words that bring life. May we all experience the power of “Ephphatha” in our lives, being open to God’s work and boldly declaring His goodness.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open our hearts, ears, and mouths to Your truth. Help us to hear You clearly, speak with love, and live transformed lives for Your glory. Amen.
