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Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus heals a deaf man who had a speech impediment.

Mark tells us that he took him “off by himself away from the crowd.” Jesus then “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!’).” Looking up to his Father and inserting his fingers into the man’s ears, Jesus establishes, as it were, an electrical current, literally plugging him into the divine energy, compelling him to hear the Word.

Now for the healing’s spiritual significance. The crowd is a large part of the problem. The raucous voices of so many, the insistent bray of the advertising culture, the confusing Babel of competing spiritualities—all of it makes us deaf to God’s word. And therefore, we have to be moved to a place of silence and communion.

Jesus draws us into his space, the space of the Church. There, away from the crowd, we can immerse ourselves in the rhythm of the liturgy, listen avidly to Scripture, study the theological tradition, watch the moves of holy people, take in the beauty of sacred art and architecture. There we can hear.

Gospel Reflections

Meditate on Daily Gospel Reflections from Bishop Robert Barron

5th week of Ordinary Time

Friday

February 9

Read

Thursday

February 8

Read

Wednesday

February 7

Read

Tuesday

February 6

Read

Monday

February 5

Read

Sunday

February 4

Read

4th week of Ordinary Time

Saturday

February 3

Read

Friday

February 2

Read

Presentation of the Lord

Thursday

February 1

Read

Wednesday

January 31

Read

Tuesday

January 30

Read

Monday

January 29

Read

Sunday

January 28

Read

3rd week of Ordinary Time

Saturday

January 27

Read

Friday

January 26

Read

Thursday

January 25

Read

Wednesday

January 24

Read

Tuesday

January 23

Read

Monday

January 22

Read

Sunday

January 21

Read

2nd week of Ordinary Time

Saturday

January 20

Read

Friday

January 19

Read

Thursday

January 18

Read

Wednesday

January 17

Read

Tuesday

January 16

Read

Monday

January 15

Read

Sunday

January 14

Read

1st week of Ordinary Time

Saturday

January 13

Read

Friday

January 12

Read

Thursday

January 11

Read

Wednesday

January 10

Read

Tuesday

January 9

Read

Monday

January 8

Read

Baptism of the Lord

Sunday

January 7

Read

Epiphany

Christmas Time

Saturday

January 6

Read

Friday

January 5

Read

Thursday

January 4

Read

Wednesday

January 3

Read

Tuesday

January 2

Read

Monday

January 1

Read

Mary, Mother of God

Sunday

December 31

Read

Holy Family

Christmas Octave

Saturday

December 30

Read

Friday

December 29

Read

Thursday

December 28

Read

Wednesday

December 27

Read

Tuesday

December 26

Read

Monday

December 25

Read

Christmas Day

Sunday

December 24

Read