Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.” Today is normally the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary! This phrase in our first reading today goes in hand with our Lady at the Annunciation. She was strong, she didn’t fear, and she totally trusted in the Lord saying, “behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done according to your word.” Mary had the free will to say no, but she didn’t. She realized that God’s kingdom needs to be spread throughout the world!
In our gospel today, the deaf man with a speech impediment is brought to Jesus. Jesus takes him aside, puts his fingers in his ears and touches his tongue, and says “’Ephphatha!’— that is, ‘Be opened!’” Just think if Mary did say no to God’s plan of salvation, none of this would have happened, and we would be sitting in sin and darkness. As St. Maximilian Kolbe puts it, “[The Immaculata] wants the best for me, more than I could possibly wish, and is able to help me because the Creator can refuse her nothing. Is it not better therefore to entrust to her my worries and my troubles? She will put them right faster and more easily than I can.” Praise God for Mary’s birth, for her yes to God, and for us being her sons and daughters!
Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections