Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop
I’m quite familiar with opening things…packages, jars, snacks, toothpaste, gatorade bottles, yogurt tubes…with a house full of kids, the list goes on. I was taught at an early age to hold the door open for others. And at numerous times in my life, I have been encouraged to be open-minded about a topic or situation. As I prepared for today, I was drawn to three spots in our series of readings that each reference the action of ‘opening’.
In the first reading, Adam and Eve eat from the tree in the middle of the garden and we hear that “the eyes of both of them were opened…” (Gen 3:7a). Then, the verse before the gospel reads, “Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son” (Acts 16:14b). And finally, we read of Jesus’ interaction with the blind man with the speech impediment: “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!”) (Mk 7:33b-34). Open eyes, open hearts, and open ears. In each instance, there is a deep desire to be open, to see clearly, to understand, to receive, and to hear vividly. And yet, it is the power of our good and loving God that makes it so. Too often, we clutter our lives with sin, selfishness, greed, lust, gluttony, laziness, hatred, and anger. Jesus has come to clear the muck from our eyes, purify our hearts, unclog our ears, and remove the impediments that prevent us from loving one another.
Back in August, we celebrated the baptism of our youngest, Dorothy. Part of the Rite of Baptism includes the prayer we read today from Jesus. After the light of Christ from the Easter candle was presented to her godparents, Fr. Kyle touched Dorothy’s ears and mouth, saying, “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith.” As we move through this day, let us reflect on the experience of God’s healing touch. May we be courageous enough to proclaim God’s goodness by spreading to others the same love we have received. Be opened!
Peace,
Brandon Meyer