September 9 - One Bread, One Body
September 9, Twenty Third Sunday Ordinary Time
Cycle B Readings:
1) Isaiah 35:4-7
Psalm 146:7-10
2) James 2:1-5
Gospel) Mark 7:31-37
The Grandest Opening
"Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears if the deaf be cleared." — Isaiah 35:5
Jesus emitted a groan and said: " 'Ephphatha!' (that is, 'Be opened!')" (Mk 7:34) Through this prayer, Jesus opened the ears and mouth of "a deaf man who had a speech impediment" (Mk 7:32). Yet there are greater and grander openings than these.
At the end of the Old Testament, the Lord promised that when we obeyed Him by tithing, He would open for us "the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon [us] without measure" (Mal 3:10). Yet there are greater and grander openings.
The grandest opening is to open "the door of faith" (Acts 14:27), that is, to open our hardened hearts (see 2 Cor 6:13). In this way, the "door to heaven" is opened for us (Rv 4:1).
We speak of an open mind, open enrollment, open arteries, the open man, open bowling, open bar, etc. The word "open" is at the entrances of hundreds of thousands of businesses. Yet all these openings mean nothing unless we have hearts open to the Lord. If you open your heart when Jesus says "Ephphatha!", He will open the gates of heaven when you say: "Ephphatha!"
Prayer: Father, I will open my heart and You will fill it.
Promise: "Did not God choose those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom He promised to those who love Him?" — Jas 2:5
Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, Who holds "the keys of death and the nether world!" (Rv 1:18).
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Imprimatur ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from August 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018.
†Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 15, 2017.
The Imprimatur ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.