9/11 and the readings remind us to be watchmen of our brothers and sisters.
9/11 and the readings remind us to be watchmen of our brothers and sisters.
We are remembering September 11. Let us try to imagine we were on the ground running to save our lives or running to someone else. What will be our mental and emotional condition? It is hard to explain. Today we remember all those who died on that day, all those who did heroic action to save a life. Like Gale Sayers, they said, “I am third.” Let us remember them in prayer with a grateful heart and let us also pray for all those who are serving in different capacities: first responders and all others being ready to serve and do the sacrifice.
I start the second reading from St. James. This is the second week we are listening from St. James. The apostle and cousin of Jesus, gives some basic and challenging principles of life. Favoritism for people of higher social classes is hypocritical for a Christian, who must love all persons unconditionally and equally. If we truly love God and neighbor, we are fulfilling God’s will. If we want to be away from these temptations, we need to listen to Jesus, “Be open,” open our hearts and minds for others.
The first reading and Gospel reminds us that God is with us always, be open to his presence, his Word, his blessings. The first reading from the book of Isaiah tells the Israelites that God will save them, and the blind, the lame, deaf, and dumb will be healed; the parched ground will become a pool (Isaiah 35:4-7). Isaiah was speaking to God’s people during their captivity in Babylon: “Be strong, fear not. Here is your God, he comes to save you.” We read in the book of Zachariah 8:13, “Just as you became a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you that you may be a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.” The restoration of Jerusalem is compared to the Exodus from Egypt into the promised land. The physical healing and prosperity will mark the renewal of the land of the chosen people. The ultimate fulfillment takes place in Jesus.
Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus’s healing of a man who was deaf and mute (Mark 7:31-37). We can read the same passage in the Gospel of Matthew 15:29-31. We see a couple of gestures in the Gospel: Jesus put his finger into the man’s ears, spitting, touching his tongue, etc. Throughout the Gospel, we can see Jesus using the signs: touch, laying on hands, water, washing, mud, and so on. These signs laid the foundation for the Seven Sacraments, through the outward sign bringing the sanctifying grace. In the Gospel, Jesus healed the man who was deaf by uttering the word “ephphatha”, Aramaic word for “be opened.” Jesus opened his ears to hear God's Word. Jesus continues in our time, through the Sacraments and acts of charity.
In the rite of Baptism, the priest/deacon will say the Ephphatha Prayer, the Prayer over Ears and Mouth of the infant. The minister touches the ears and the mouth of the baby and says: “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, to the praise and glory of God the Father. Amen.”
The Ephphatha or opening to Christ at baptism is just the first of many openings to Christ all during our life. At that first opening, it was Christ who opened our ears and mouth. Since then it is up to us to open up to Christ. How many times Christ stands before us in varied ways and we have to decide to open up to Christ.
Today, are we open to receiving healing and to be an instrument of healing? We need to receive God’s love, forgiveness, and healing in a personal way and as a communitarian way. At the same, the reading reminds us that we need to intercede for others for their healing. At the Eucharist, the true healer, Jesus shares with us his very life in the Body and Blood. Let us open our minds and hearts to receive his healing touch, and hear his word, “Be opened.”
Last couple of weeks I mentioned one of the ways is “Walk With One.” I want to continue to remind you about it. It is an invitation to think about one person/family whom we don’t see with us for a while but we would like to see them back to celebrate the Eucharist with us. Then pray for that individual or family for a while. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate the Eucharist with us. When I say invite them, I assume you know when you invite a non catholic, they need to go to RCIA to prepare to receive the Sacraments. The Eucharist sends us to share the gift we received at the celebration with others by sharing our life with others.
Last couple of weeks I mentioned “Walk With One.” It is an invitation to think about one person/family whom each of us would like to have to celebrate Eucharist with us. Then pray for that individual or family for a while. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate faith with us. When I say invite them, I assume you know when you invite a non catholic, they need to go to RCIA to prepare to receive the Sacraments. This is also one way of being a gift to the other.