GOSPEL

He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.
From the Gospel according to Mark. Mk 7:31-37

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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Renewed Relationship.

In the time of Jesus, a deaf-mute person couldn’t have a relationship with anyone, not even with God, because they couldn’t hear God’s law.

The fact that Jesus opened his ears and loosened his tongue was like opening him up to life. It was like making him be born again.

That’s what happens in our relationship with the Lord. It makes us new. Yes, new.

Applied to Married Life:

Nick: We’ve been having problems in our relationship for a long time, and we can’t find a way to break out of the cycle we’re in.

Louise: The only solution is to look to the Lord and let Him heal our relationship.

Nick: And how do we do that?

Louise: Through marital prayer, of course, but also, since we are particularly wounded by our pride, what do you think if we only talk about God for a week?

Nick: I think it’s wonderful because it will heal our bond and reactivate our Sacrament. We attend confession, receive communion, and start anew. Does that sound good to you?

Alicia: I love it.

Mother,

The Lord creates us again, every time. Praise be to Him forever.

GOSPEL

From the Gospel according to Mark. Mk 7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”

He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”‘ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

“Confes-Suction”.

Jesus seeks to teach where true purity is attained. The key lies in the heart and it is the purity of intention. The opposite of purity is hypocrisy, that is, caring for the outside appearances while neglecting what comes from the heart. Human laws focus on the outside matters, but they forget about the inner truth.

Applied to marriaged life:

John: Tonight, I came up with an idea for a new business.

Gemma: What is it about?

John: Let’s start a cosmetic clinic.

Gemma: Well, you’re certainly not very original. There are already more cosmetic clinics than banks.

John: True, but those focus on outside appearances. I’m talking about a clinic for inner purity.

Gemma: Now, that is original. And how do you achieve that?

John: Easy. I’ll advertise on social media, and the location will be the sanctuary of the parish. Haha! Just imagine the surprise when they come for liposuction and find themselves in attending “confes-suction” at the confessional. We’ll tell them it’s a new system, and that’s it.

Gemma: Haha, I can imagine. Come on, get up; it’s already 7:30, and we have to go to work.

Mother,

Let us not neglect what is inside while focusing on appearances. Praised be the Lord.

GOSPEL

As many as touched it were heal
From the Gospel according to Mark. MK 6:53-56

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

The Gospel of the Lord.

They wouldn’t believe it.

We have been created so that God may dwell in us, and He is already within us and will continue to be dewll in us for all eternity, when He will fill us with His glory.

In the times of Jesus, people longed to touch the hem of His garment. Now, on the contrary, He is within me. How am I going to make the most of that?

Applied to Married Life:

Ray: I am amazed by God’s behavior towards me, by how much He loves me. It’s great that He wants to be close to me, but inside?

Rose: It’s a mystery of His overflowing love. But, would you believe that love can truly exist if it’s not in this manner?

Ray: Only if it’s spousal, correct?. I carry you deep within me, and even when we live our marital embrace, I enter inside you. In marital prayer, I enter in your intimacy, which is the most precious part of you.

Rose: Exactly. Christ espouses us with spousal love. He doesn’t want a halfway love. He desires a love of total surrender. It’s impressive.

Ray: It’s overwhelming.

Mother,

If those ancestors from the Old Testament were to come now, they wouldn’t believe the immense fortune we have. God in us. Blessed be The Lord.”