22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

by Rev. Kilian McCaffrey  |  08/29/2024  |  Pastor's Letter

“Ephphatha!” Be Open to Hearing the Word of God.

This is an important story that touches each one of us. We may say, “but I am not deaf and I do not have a speech impediment.” So often we don’t listen and we say the things badly!

This man was deaf to the Word of God, and Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, the Word, healed this man. Jesus took the man away from the crowd, so that the man could be alone with Him. He healed the man’s deafness, removed the speech impediment and the man was able to hear and speak plainly.

Jesus opened his ears, saying “Ephphatha!” be opened, and loosed his tongue. During the Baptismal Rite, the Priest or Deacon makes the Sign of the Cross on the ears of the child or person to be baptized and says, Why is this so important, that we have ears opened to hear the Word of God?

We are to receive eternal life from God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. We belong to Jesus. He claims us as His own. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid His life down for you and me. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of My Hand. My Father, Who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s Hand.

The Father and I are one.” (John 10:27-30) The second reading from St. James says: “Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?”

In today’s first reading from Isaiah, we hear how God listens to our cries and gives His very Self to us as our Healer, Comforter and Savior: “Thus says the LORD: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: ‘Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense, he comes to save you.’ If you are not aware of how deeply you are loved by Jesus and how you are chosen to be His forever, you’re deaf.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Stand “apart from the crowd.” Stand with Jesus and ask Him to open the ears of your heart to His Love and Mercy….

Our Labor Day Barbeque & Pot Luck will be at 4:00PM on Monday, September 2, in the Parish Hall.

Fr. Kilian, Fr. Samuel, our Deacons and our Parish Staff and Volunteers.

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