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Gospel Reading for February 9, 2024 – Mark 7: 31-37
VERY POWERFUL
Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
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People brought the deaf man to Jesus and begged him to lay his hand on him. Although not wrong and a natural thing to do, as we have to ask God for our needs, praying for ourselves is self-serving, but concern and compassion for others in need, makes our prayer VERY POWERFUL indeed!
Lord Jesus, whenever we become deaf to your Word and unable to speak to others about it, please remind us to “Be opened!”
