Be opened

Gen. 3:1-8, Mk 7:31-37. Today's first read shows Paradise Lost, while the Gospel tells of paradise regained. What is related in the account describes what we go through when we are tempted and give into sin. We can easily see how we are offspring of the first couple and are weakened and prone to sin, just as they were. The passage begins with the introduction of the serpent, the symbol of evil, who is cunning and deceitful. The serpent begins with a question which is a purposeful misplacement of the truth. Eve is asked if God forbids eating of fruit of all the trees in the garden. The truth is twisted by the serpent and Eve continues twisting the truth and adds an element to the command given by God. She truthfully says that God has forbidden them to eat of the tree in the centre of the garden but the serpent continues twisting the truth, saying that God knows the power of the fruit of the tree will cause them to know as much as God and be like. 

There is a sense of paradise restored in the story of Jesus curing the deaf and dumb man in today's Gospel. He put His fingers in the man’s ears and touched his tongue with saliva, then looked up to Heaven with a groan of petition. Jesus’ words and compassion, even His distressed groan over the man’s disability, show how the dumb man was restored to full health. The phrase, “He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak” is from a sparkling prophecy of Isaiah, that “those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy.” The Messianic age is near: “Here is your God, he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared” (Ish 35:5).

May the Lord guide our thoughts, words and actions so that what we do and say may be pleasing to God! Amen!! Good morning and have a pleasant day!!!