Are you open to Christ’s voice? Do you listen when He speaks in the silence of your heart? Do your eyes see what Christ does for the smallest of creatures? Can you feel His presence in the midst of storms? If you answer, “Yes,” to any of these questions, you are “Ephphatha” or open to Christ’s love and grace.
In Mark 7:24-37, a Gentile woman begged Christ to heal her daughter who was possessed by a demon. He said, “Let the children be fed first. It is not fair to take children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She answered Him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” He then said to her, “Because you have said this to me, go, and the demon has left your daughter.” She went home and found her daughter was healed.
In a second parable, a deaf man who could not speak was brought to Christ. The man’s friends begged Christ to heal him. Christ took him to a private area, put His fingers in the his ears, and spat on His fingers to touch the man’s tongue. Christ looked up to heaven and said, “Ephphatha,” which means “be open.” The man’s ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke. Despite Christ’s request not to tell anyone, the man’s friends went out and declared the miracle.
In today’s world, with the pandemic, war, racism, hatred, climate change destruction, and a general lack of concern and love for others, where do you stand? Are you open to Christ’s love and grace, or are you a continuation of the problems? I try to be Christ-like, despite my faults. As the daughter’s demon was removed and the deaf man was made to hear and speak, I ask Christ to come into my life and make me whole. The gift of my life is enough grace for me to remain “Open to the One who gave His life for my sins.” His blood is my blood; His cross is my cross. Somewhere in between I hear Him say,”Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” God is not finished with me yet, and I do not stumble because His Son is by my side.
Anna Hartt
