The first reading, from the Book of Isaiah, is a prophetic reading about the what is to happen when Christ comes, but is also still relevant now that Christ has already come. The reading tells us to “be strong, fear not,” because our God is to come save us. The reading then goes on to say, the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf cleared.
In a real sense our Lord has come and healed us and as today's gospel proclaims, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” But in another way there are some who are able to see, but are blind to the vision of hope the Church provides. There are also those who may have the ability to hear, but are deaf to the reception of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In our world today it seems that many are “afflicted” in these manners.
Holy Mother Church often lovingly admonishes and corrects our wrongdoing on the issues of life, such as abortion and the death penalty, and on social justice issues, such as our treatment of the poor, as talked about in the second reading, and war and oppression. The Church even speaks on issues such as the dignity of Marriage. It is at these times, when the Church speaks on truth and justice, that we stop looking and listening (today's gospel talks about the more Jesus ordered the people not so do, the more they did) like the novelty monkeys, “see no evil, hear not evil, speak no evil,” only it is not evil we become unreceptive to, but it is our Lord.
The first reading directs us to “fear not” and to be courageous. In Isaiah it says our God will come but we know He has come and is to come again. So, when we push forward with the truth and justice that the Church proclaims we know it is not in vain, because Christ gives us hope that one day He will speak into the hearts of man and say “Ephphatha!” (Be opened). When that day comes, those who listen not to the gospel will hear and those who see not the beacon of light that is the Church will have their eyes opened!
(By Devin Jones)
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