Devotion
Ephphatha
Frances Taylor
Be opened! This word – ephphatha – is a part of the Baptismal rite. In it, we pray that the ears of the child will be open to the word of God. How can all of this be achieved if our ears are not open to listen? To whom and what do we listen? Do we listen to the Gospel so that we can follow Jesus? Do we listen to our children so that we know what is going on in their worlds? Do we listen to the voices of the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, so that we can find ways to help them? Or do we listen to the voice that tells us that our needs are the most important, that we know best how to live our lives, that we survived our childhoods, so our children will just have to make the best of theirs? Just as we need eyes that are open to the world around us, we need ears that are open as well. It must be difficult for people who were either born deaf, or whose hearing was lost from accident, illness or age, but it is said that when one sense fails, another becomes more acute. The man in today's Gospel was brought to Jesus by his friends who knew that Jesus was the answer. Once his ears were opened and his tongue freed from its impediment, he and his friends could not be stopped from praising God.
Prayer
Dear Lord, may we who are blessed to have eyes to see and ears to hear also open our lips in praise to our God. Amen.
Daily Prayer and Devotion
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Inspiration
It is better to be honest with God in our prayers than to be hypocritical. We should always be reverent, but we pray with the knowledge that he already knows and sees our hearts. We cannot hide anything from him, so why would we not tell him "our complaint" as did Job? If we feel anguish or bitterness, better to admit it to God and to seek his power to change us than to try to hide it from him.
Prayer
O seer of our hearts, you know our thoughts before we think them, our words before we say them. Nothing can be hid from your sight, but all things are naked and bare before you. I will not seek to hide any bitterness, anger, sorrow, worry, or anything else from you but will admit it to you and seek you to help me change. Amen.
Night Prayer
Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
Inspiration
Have you ever been afraid to speak up for Jesus? Maybe you’re afraid that doing so will cost you friendships, a job, or standing in your community. But perhaps in speaking up, you’ll learn that there are others around you who also keep their faith silent, for fear of standing alone in the crowd. Still, even a single voice is never alone, because Jesus remains with us even when nobody else does.
Prayer
God, as I find myself surrounded by others who don’t know You, or even some who oppose You, I pray that You will give me the boldness to speak up with courage and conviction. Give me words when I need them, and keep me close to You, so that I may have the assurance of Your presence even if nobody else speaks up with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
