“Then, looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘be opened.’” (Mk 7:34)

 “Then, looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘be opened.’” (Mk 7:34) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 7:31-37; Gen 3:1-8

Meditation: The first reading of today presets a brief account on the original sin of man. Though some believe and claim that the original of man is connected with sex, and prompted several to bring in this theme to art and literature, it is not in any case evident from the bible. What may be derived from this passage is that it is connected with disobedience and eventually, badly affected man’s relationship with Lord God, his creator. They lost entirely the cordial relation they had with God.

That is why we read, “They heard the sound of the Lord God taking a walk in the garden in the cool of the day, and they, Adam and his wife, hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Gen 3:8) When the author of Genesis brought this theme out he might have used the language and style of a story teller and therefore, we have a beautiful narrative too of Adam and Eve being thrown out of the garden at the end of that story. 

  

“So the Lord cast him out of the garden to till the ground from which he had been made. And after having driven the man out, he posted the Cherubim and a flaming sword that kept turning in all directions to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Gen 3:23, 24) This narrative is there in mind from my child hood onward. However, today after going through the salvation history and its message many a time, I tend to believe that it may not be God who closed the door against him; rather Adam himself closed his heart against God.

If at all God closes, it is only for your salvation. This message is very obvious in the stories like Noah, where we read, “Then the Lord closed the door behind Noah.” (Gen 7:16) And he was saved from the flood. However, God is helpless in front of man’s closed doors of his heart and life. This remains the same till the last book of the bible, where we find, “Look, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my call and opens the door, I will come in to him and have supper with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20)

The same message is heard in today’s meditation verse: “Then, looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘be opened.’” (Mk 7:34)  If you believe in the Lord and repent on your sins, then, the closed, hardened heart and life will be opened for ever. It is not that God sent me away from his presence, rather it is I who fled from him through my sins, pride, selfishness etc. “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world; but that, through him the world might be saved.” (Jn 3:17)  

    

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. I surrender myself to you and your healing word in faith today. Come to me and open my closed heart and mind. Make me whole. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blissful Friday!