Be Opened

From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.’ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’ Mark 7:24-37

Again, a wonderful scene where Jesus is confronted by a fierce and determined mother. Jesus has welcomed women, crossed all sorts of barriers yet he pushed back on this frantic mother, a Gentile. She blows back with the most wonderful response, which seems to delight Jesus. She is open to his healing because her heart is torn open by love for her child. The man who was deaf found Jesus who said "be opened." Whether physical, emotional and spiritual, we are called to be open to new healing, new possibilities and the surprising and wondrous acts of God.

Wondrous Creator, you open hearts locked down

you renew and heal the earth we have ruptured

and you send the spring rains to remind us to hope.

We are closed down, sad and totally overwhelmed

the world seems wobbly and spinning off her axis

and we are hunkered down because of our fear.

Melt our hearts with your radiant loving light

help us to open our hearts again to your love

and open our eyes to see those needing love and care. Amen.