Ephphatha

Ephphatha – be opened!

We are doing a record number of Baptisms this summer.  We have two this weekend, two next weekend and one more after that…more coming in each week or two!

What a blessing! 

Baptism is wonderful!  I love doing Baptims.

Baptism is important because in Baptism, we are restored to the right relationship with God – the relationship that was there before mankind let sin into the world.

In the order of Baptism, there is an optional rite - called “Ephphatha” where we pray for the child’s ears to be opened to hear the Word of God and lips to be freed to proclaim the Gospel. 

This prayer request to God is not just for the Baptism or for the child growing up – but for a person’s lifetime.

So, how are we doing with our “Ephphatha” blessing?

We have heard the “Good News”. We would not be here if had not heard the “Good News”! 

Our ears are open – We heard it – have we listened to it.  Hearing is one thing, listening is quite another.  (My wife reminds me of that all the time!)

People don’t just want to be heard – they want to be listened to.

Hearing is passive.  Listening is active.

Have we taken the message of the Gospel to heart?

Have we not only opened our ears, but opened our hearts as well.

To know that:

• Jesus is real,
• that he is the Son of God, the Messiah.
• he died to take away our sins
• he rose from the dead,
• and has earned for us the opportunity for eternal life…

That makes all the difference in the world!

That is not just good news – it is Great news – tremendously awesome, the best news possible! 

So, what do we do with that kind of news?

The second part of the Ephphatha blessing is to open our lips and share the Good News.

The man in the Gospel who could not hear and could not speak – after Jesus opened his ears and his lips, what do you think he did? 

And those who witnessed this miracle – what do you think they did?

Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone – but how do you hold that kind of joy in?

They were bursting with joy.  They told people and the crowds continued to grow.

Who have we told? 

True, we witness by our actions, by how we live our lives, by what becomes our character – but there comes a time when we need to say something.

We need to articulate our beliefs. 

The culture in which we live needs to hear the truth regarding the issues that concern us: abortion, gender identity, human rights…not from a political perspective, but from a position based on truth – absolute truth – God’s truth.

But when we speak, it must not be with anger or hatred. 

We must speak the truth with love.

American popular culture denies the existence of God and in so doing throws so many social issues up for grabs. 

American popular culture sends our youth into their life’s journey with no moral compass. 

Is it any wonder that there is a mental health crisis among our youth?

Who is going to tell them the truth if we remain silent?

The truth of God is not only the Kerygma (the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – but the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the Church that Jesus founded as well.

Scripture, in St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, tells us:

Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching.

From this perspective, listen again to some of the words from Isaiah:

Be strong and fear not!...Jesus comes to save you.

We are called to not give in and not give up.  Keep up the fight.

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,

and the ears of the deaf be cleared;

…then the togue of the mute will sing.

Now, if you want to hear about someone who stood up for the teachings of Jesus, we have a great example in St. James. 

James tells it like it is.  He minces no words!  But he did it in truth with love. 

Listen to this excerpt from Chapter One: Know this , my brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. 

His letter is short – only 5 chapters, five pages in your Bible – but it is powerful.

Listen to these topics that he addresses:

• perseverance in trial
• doers of the Word
• faith and works
• power of the tongue
• true wisdom
• causes of division
• warning against presumption
• warning the rich
• patience and oaths
• anointing the sick
• confession and intercession
• conversion of sinners

I encourage you to read it this week.  It’s a crash course in what we need to know to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. 

In today’s second reading, St. James calls us out for caring more about the exterior things – like clothes, wealth, material possessions.  Those things are temporary. We leave them all behind when we move on from this life.

Instead, he calls us to be concerned about what is in the heart for that is what God sees. It is what is in the heart that we take with us when we leave this life. 

Furthermore, if God shows any partiality at all – it is for the poor and those in need. The poor know that they need God. God’s partiality needs to be our priority! 

Let us pray…

Lord Jesus, you opened the ears and the lips of the one who could not hear or speak.

Open our ears and hearts to hear your word.  Open our minds and lips to our faith to the glory and praise of God the Father.