The story of Helen Keller is remarkable. It's amazing how she was able to develop despite her disability. Not being able to hear can impose limitations on a person's ability to function and enjoy life overall.
In our Gospel reading for this Sunday (Mark 7:24-37), we read of a man who was both deaf and mute. His friends bring him to Jesus and his condition is restored to wholeness. His life is changed. Here is the account:
"They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be opened.' And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly." Mark 7:32-37
This man was helpless by himself to be healed. In the story, it is also mentioned that there were people who brought this deaf and mute man to Jesus. I would ask you to reflect here on what it means to bring someone to Jesus for whom you know there is brokenness. In addition to someone who is ill, it might be one who has lost one's job or one who has experienced a relationship that has broken down. Think of what Jesus might offer this person and how this person's life might be changed through an encounter with the Lord.
I believe, too, we must also hear Jesus saying to us, "Be opened." Amid all the noise of our world and our attention on earthly things, we need to listen for what God might be speaking to us as well as being attentive to the cries of others. I hope you can spend some time meditating on these words and may God's blessing be upon your worship this Sunday.
Pastor Marty
In our Gospel reading for this Sunday (Mark 7:24-37), we read of a man who was both deaf and mute. His friends bring him to Jesus and his condition is restored to wholeness. His life is changed. Here is the account:
"They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be opened.' And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly." Mark 7:32-37
This man was helpless by himself to be healed. In the story, it is also mentioned that there were people who brought this deaf and mute man to Jesus. I would ask you to reflect here on what it means to bring someone to Jesus for whom you know there is brokenness. In addition to someone who is ill, it might be one who has lost one's job or one who has experienced a relationship that has broken down. Think of what Jesus might offer this person and how this person's life might be changed through an encounter with the Lord.
I believe, too, we must also hear Jesus saying to us, "Be opened." Amid all the noise of our world and our attention on earthly things, we need to listen for what God might be speaking to us as well as being attentive to the cries of others. I hope you can spend some time meditating on these words and may God's blessing be upon your worship this Sunday.
Pastor Marty
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