23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily for 10 September 2006
Fr. Tom Seibert

Today’s Gospel tells the story of how a group of people brought a deaf man who had a speech impediment to the Lord, and begged him to lay his hand on him. We are told that Jesus took the man off by himself completely away from the crowd. When he was far enough he took his finger and touched the man’s ears, and looking up to heaven said “Ephphata!” (That is be open). When the man could hear and once more talk, our Lord said to him, do not tell anyone. Yet those who witnessed this miracle went off proclaiming what they had seen with their own eyes.

Why did Jesus tell the man and those around him not to tell anyone? Some believe this was the Messianic Secret; it wasn’t really his time to be revealed. This morning I would offer another idea. Was our Lord trying to convey to the man born deaf, take a time out for a little while and reflect on what just happened. He just had a personal encounter with the Son of God. Just exactly what did all this mean? Be open! Are we quiet enough in our own life to be open to God’s call? To hear his Word and to respond in away that will give him the glory and honor? We get so caught up in our own world that often do not stop to be thankful or even to reflect on that personal encounter with Christ and what it really means. We are at times so intent on getting the Word out that we fail to use the grace God has given us properly.

Take the time out to be prayerful and quiet. Speak to the Lord from your heart and allow the grace of God’s presence in your life to lead and guide every thought and every word, for the greater honor and glory of God.