“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.

We conclude the Bread of Life Discourse. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” Strong, powerful, truthful words.

Jesus is teaching about himself and about the sacrificial death He is to endure. He is teaching about the Holy Eucharist, the sacrament of the sacrifice of the cross is made present on the altars of the church until He returns.

Jesus continue our short retreat this weekend with the end of the mysterious Bread of Life Discourse.

Our readings are at once inspiring and challenging. Jesus had just very directly declared:

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”

These words would have caused consternation and confusion among the Jewish disciples mainly due to their very strict dietary laws; and this led in turn to the showdown we witness today in our Gospel.

“They shall all be taught by God.”

Jesus continues His teaching on The Bread of Life in the Gospel of John, Chapter 6, and reveals Himself as the Bread of Life, the Bread of Heaven. Christ tells us that He is the Word of God Made Flesh, a disgusting thought for many followers.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

“I Am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

It is an astonishing claim and revelation: Our Bread of Life Retreat With The Lord Continues
There is so much in these powerful readings: Jesus clearly tells us today on our retreat with Him:
He Explains Who He Is and Why He Came
Remember That God Always Does The Most With The Least