Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.
Today's Gospel: Mark 7:31-37
When you receive terrific, extraordinary, excellent, exciting news, what do you do with it? Do you keep it to yourself, or do you shout it from the rooftops? Unless sworn to secrecy, I’m a shout-good-news-from-the-rooftops kind of gal. When I see God’s work and graces in my life, I can’t help but to share.
My proclivity to share good news makes me especially smile at today’s Gospel reading. In today’s reading Jesus encounters a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. By laying hands on him, putting His fingers into the man’s ears, and touching his tongue, the man is healed.
Beyond physical healing, this healing helped to open the disciples’ eyes to Jesus’ divinity. If you’ve read the Book of Exodus, this combination of deafness and dumbness may sound familiar to you. In Exodus, the LORD says to Moses, “Who gives one man speech and makes another man deaf and dumb? Or who gives sight to one and makes another blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” Exodus 4:11.
We must always read the New Testament with an ear to the Old, and when we do that with today’s Gospel, it become clear that in performing this miraculous healing, Jesus is doing something that Scripture ascribes to God alone. In healing this man – in making the deaf hear and the mute speak -- Jesus is revealing His divinity.
Jesus heals because He is the eternally begotten, incarnate Son of God. Despite Jesus’ admonition to keep this knowledge to themselves, the disciples can’t keep quiet. They are compelled to share the good news of Jesus.
Ponder:
Considering your life, have you ever experienced a grace or favor from God that you simply had to share with others? Why did you feel compelled to share?
Pray:
Lord, we thank You for healings and miracles around us every day. Help us to share our stories of experiencing Your grace with others.
Click to tweet:
In healing this man – in making the deaf hear and the mute speak -- Jesus is revealing His divinity. #DailyGospel
Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Tomlin
About the Author
Elizabeth Tomlin
Elizabeth is the author of Joyful Momentum: Building and Sustaining Vibrant Women’s Groups (Ave Maria Press), General Counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and director of stewardship for the Military Council of Catholic Women, where she previously served as the president and as director of faith formation. Elizabeth is a catechist and speaker, and blogs at JoyfulMomentum.org.
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