R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

In the Rite of the Sacrament of Baptism, the Church invokes a prayer over the one who is to be baptized. It is the Ephetah prayer – a Hebrew word meaning, “Be opened.” It is the word taken from the Gospel today … ears opened to hear the Word of God … the mouth opened to sing the praises of the Lord. The infants, as I touch their ears and their mouth for this blessing at times hear me well and shout out a loud response. It is for us who witness the child truly a moment of joy to experience the opening of their ears and the opening of their mouth – sometimes, even too loud for my hearing aids to absorb! But there is a profound message in this Hebrew word that means, “Be opened.” And the message is this. We who faithfully exercise our obligation to celebrate the Mass weekly – even daily if possible – do have ears opened in hearing the Word of God and put it into practice.

We are not to be superficial, routine, casual hearers of His Word, but rather truly open to hearing Him and listening to Him and what He has to say to us in listening to the scriptural readings of the Mass. And our mouths too are to be opened in the communal recitation of our prayers, and in singing His praise.

That is why I say the Hebrew word Ephatah is meant for you. Do not be closed in hearing or closed in speaking or singing in a spiritual way. Let’s face it. To be spiritually deaf and spiritually closed-lipped with God is not holy or wholesome.

Speaking of all that is holy and wholesome, we honor today grandparents and the elderly as a world day of prayer – the fourth annual to be exact. From my experience, in my 38 years as pastor here at Our Lady of Mount Carmel/Saint Anthony, our young people love and respect their grandparents. I would say to our young people, do not forget your grandparents; they are an essential part of your lives. I am continually awed to see the love and reverence our youth have for their grandparents.

I only knew two of my four grandparents – Grandpa Lorenzo virtually raised eight children as a widower since my grandmother died young. I would stop in to visit him often, when I was ten or eleven, and he would give me a small glass of wine – no more than 4 ounces. He had two stashes – one stash for the family and his friends made from the concord grapes from his backyard. It did not get favorable reviews from either family or friends. The other stash was for him – and for me – and it was pretty good. A little wine for his special grandson …

And my grandmother on my mother’s side was a beautiful witness of a prayerful person and very wise. One thing I will never forget – when I would brag too much, or began to speak critically of someone, she would go, “Shhhh! Be quiet. That’s enough,” instructing me to be humble, and that talking about people doesn’t do any good at all. Shhhh!

Let us respect and pray always for our grandparents. What is the message of today? It’s meant for you. Ephatah! Let your life be opened to the Word of God, and your mouth be opened to praising Him with your life.

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

Thus says the LORD:
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.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water.

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The God of Jacob keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations.
Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

My brothers and sisters, show no partiality
as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes
comes into your assembly,
and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in,
and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes
and say, “Sit here, please, ”
while you say to the poor one, “Stand there, ” or “Sit at my feet, ”
have you not made distinctions among yourselves
and become judges with evil designs?

Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.
Did not God choose those who are poor in the world
to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom
that he promised to those who love him?

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.