Talking and hearing are vital in our daily interactions. Hearing, talking, seeing and walking are so important in our lives. In the first reading, we hear the prophet Isaiah announcing the good news of God’s salvation that God is able to heal the blind, the deaf and the dumb. In the Gospel, Jesus heals a deaf man who is also mute. God’s promise is realised through Jesus. Drawing reference from the Gospel of Luke, at the beginning of his ministry, this was what Jesus set out to do when he declared The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind (Luke 4:18).
Reading these passages, if we were to take them literally, we will be left in awe of the miracle. Delving deeper, we examine our actions- perhaps we are the deaf and mute that Jesus wants to heal. When we listen to God’s teachings, we are called to process the message God wants us to hear, to keep and apply his Word in our lives. When we communicate with others, we to listen with our hearts and listen with empathy.
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. (Psalm 34:1) Words from our mouths ought to sing God’s praises, proclaim God’s message of eternal life and salvation. To remain silent when it comes to proclaiming God’s words does indicate a doubt in his words. Let us not be afraid to give voice to the Word of the Lord while others do not know much about the word of God. In these instances we are the mute.
We received the invitation in baptism to become a disciple of Jesus- one who remains open and listens to his words of truth, and one who will proclaim his words. Let us keep this in mind and speak with our hearts, and hear with our hearts today.
Ephrem Music Ministry