Introductory Prayer:  Jesus, teach me to listen to you as I should. Your heavenly Father, who you told me to call Abba, Father, tells me to listen to you, the Son in whom he is well pleased. I want to do this, yet I find it difficult sometimes. I hope in the change that will come over me as I hear your voice and follow you. I love you for the gift of your friendship and for loving me enough to challenge me in this prayer.

Petition: Jesus Christ, teach me to listen to you as I should.

Gospel: Mk 7: 31-37

Jesus left Tyrian territory and returned by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Ten Cities. Some people brought him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. Jesus took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his fingers into the mans ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and emitted a groan. He said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, Be opened!) At once the mans ears were opened; he was freed from the impediment, and began to speak plainly. Then he enjoined them strictly not to tell anyone; but the more he ordered them no to, the more they proclaimed it. Their amazement went beyond all bounds: He has done everything well! He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!

1.  "Some People Brought Him a Deaf Man Who Had a Speech Impediment and Begged Him to Lay His Hand on Him."

There is a phenomenon here that is not illustrated for us by St. Mark. How is it that the deaf-mute enlisted the help of these people not being able to speak nor hear their offer to help him? Was it his initiative or was it theirs? Yet without knowing these aspects we can still see that something very important took place. These people worked together to bring a soul to Christ. Christian teamwork has always been important, no less so today than in the time of Christ. It seems that the desire for the cure came in great part from these people. True friends. They begged Christ to lay his hand on the deaf-mute. If it was something they saw as an obligation they would have just dropped him off at Christs feet. They worked together and prayed together. Together, they fulfilled what every Christian through baptism commits to: prayer and action.

2.  "Be Opened!"

Christ, as is so typical of him when there is faith, sets about the cure. Be opened! What greater desire could Christ have than that we be opened, opened to the action of his grace, opened up to receive his love? The deaf-mute has obstacles to hearing and speaking. We, too, have obstacles, roadblocks to hearing Christ and speaking about him to others. Christ wants us to be open. He says to us, Be opened! What are we afraid of hearing? What words are we afraid of speaking? If we want to, we can be opened!

Open your heart before the tabernacle and above all begin to be master of yourself and your life. Put an end to that barren passivity which has made you a toy on the tides of your temperament. If you approach God with faith, humility, and a sincere desire to remake your life, He won't forsake you. (Marcial Maciel, LC)

3.  "But They Proclaimed It."

After everything that Christ did for this soul and for those who requested the cure, they cannot honor his wishes that they say nothing of what transpired. Instead, they go off to do their own thing. We understand their excitement and Christ seems to be asking for something impossible, how could the people not talk about it? We dont know his purpose in asking it, we dont know how their disobedience affected Christs plans. We just know that the same happens to us. We cannot see beyond what is visible to us, by having faith in Christ. We reduce his divine plans to the perfectly reasonable human plans we devise. It may be called a soft rebellion, an unintentional one, and it happens because we think we know best and do it. Christ does everything for us. He opens us to his grace and yet, we owe him everything, yet how elusive is the goal of being perfectly faithful to him! The great marvel here is Christs patience. He sees the heart of man, he knew it was gratitude and awe that moved them, and he pardons.

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, what else could I want in this life or the next than to be open to receiving your grace, your life, the vision of your face and the sound of your voice. Why do I place so many obstacles in the way? Why dont I focus on your voice to the exclusion of other voices in my life? Why do I make so many things take priority over you? Send your Spirit upon me and break through my stubbornness so that I may know, love and accomplish the Fathers plan over my life. Please, Lord, I truly want to be faithful. I do not want to leave this prayer in which you have been so generous to me only to do my own thing. Amen.

Questionnaire: This optional questionnaire is intended to help you evaluate your life in light of the inspirations God just gave you in these moments you spent with him in prayer.

1. What are the things that prevent me from hearing Christ? Do I want to be freed from them?

2. The deaf-mute was brought to Christ by people filled with faith. How can I work with others to advance Christs Kingdom and bring others to Christ, one by one?