Gospel
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.”
It is sometimes hard for us to understand what Jesus is doing in our life. We pray often perhaps. We grow in our relationship with God. We strive to follow the teachings of Jesus.
And we wonder if our petitions have effect. We may not see any.
We wonder if we are still doing the right thing. There are no attaboys or signs of appreciation for a job well done yet.
Where is he? What is he doing?
But as we hear in the Gospel today, Jesus does all things well. God is always working for us and moving us and our world forward.
We may not always see it or feel him near. Our faith may be tested. But if we stay the course and continue to put God first in our life, we can have faith knowing we are on course and God’s busy in ways we don’t see.
We were born to be holy men and women. To be saints. That is our calling as baptized children of God.
We are born to greatness. To bring the light of God to everyone and if we do this… others will be brave enough to do it also. We must hold onto our faith and grow it knowing he is working for us. This Lent is a great time to put aside remaining sin or bad habits and take one more step toward God. Maybe that’s going to Mass once a day during the week. Maybe a family rosary during Lent each day or at least one day a week. Move your faith forward. Right where we are now.
He has planted us right where we need to be. Have faith and grow in love and joy knowing he is always with us working beside us for our good and the good of all.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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