Judges 11:1-11, 29-40
2 Corinthians 11:21-31
Mark 4:35-41
Today's Psalms
Morning 18 Evening 19-22
Gregory the Great, Pastor
One of the great leaders in Europe at the close of the sixth century, Gregory served in both the secular and sacred arenas of his era. As mayor of Rome, he restored economic vitality to his native city, which had been weakened by enemy invasions, pillage and plague. After he sold his extensive properties and donated the proceeds to help the poor, he entered into full-time service in the Church. On 3 September A.D. 590 Gregory was elected to lead the church in Rome. As Bishop of Rome he oversaw changes and growth in the areas of church music and liturgical development, missionary outreach to northern Europe and the establishment of a church-year calendar still used by many churches in the western World today. His book on pastoral care became a standard until the 20th century. [From "Commemorations Biographies," Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship]
Higher Things reflection
The Lord speaks a single word – “Ephphatha” – and the deaf and speechless man is deaf and speechless no longer. Just as the Lord breathed His life into ordinary dust and made our bodies, complete with ears, mouths, and all the other parts, so this Creator Lord speaks to the body He has created and reveals Himself to be Lord over even our ears and mouths. At a single Jesus-utterance ears are opened and mute tongues are able to speak.
As surely as He is Lord over our physical ears and mouths and can heal their ailments, He is able to deliver into your ears and mouth His life-giving gifts. Jesus sticks his finger right into the deaf ear. His word, “Ephphatha” is spoken right in the deaf man’s ear, and it is opened. Jesus spits and touches the man’s tongue, and His word heals it. Right into your ear, Jesus puts His Word. Right onto your tongue He puts His body and blood. There is no doubt that it is for you. He has chosen your ears and your tongue. As Lord over your ears, He has opened your ears to hear His word. He has released your tongue to receive His forgiveness.
Free ears. Free tongues. No longer bound to hearing and speaking only through the curse of sin and death, but free to receive what Jesus would put directly into our ears and mouths. With free ears, we weekly receive the proclamation of His absolution: “I forgive you all your sins.” With free mouths, we speak our confession, that is, the Creed.
“Ephphatha!” Ears are opened. Tongues are released. His word accomplishes it all! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Almighty and merciful God, whose gift it is that Your faithful possess all things pertaining to faith and life, we implore You that we may so faithfully cling to Your promises in this life that we fail not finally to attain to Your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.” (Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity)
¶ 9/03/2006 08:23:00 AM 0 Comments
