THE GOSPEL
Mark 7:31-37He 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.
Jesus,
open our ears
so that we can hear you
in the
pleading of the poor,
the cry of the environment,
the war-torn,
the immigrant,
the hungry.
Open our ears
so we can hear you
in the
crash of waves,
the sound of children laughing,
the call of a friend, in music by Puccini.
We want to know you well;
wherever you are—
and
in all things.
Open our deaf ears
and loosen our
tongues.
Let us hear and speak
your love to all
the world.
THE FIRST READING
Isaiah 35:4-7a
Here is your God; he comes to save you.
Jesus,
you transform our thirsty ground
into pools of living water.
You open our eyes
and choke
back our
fears.
You make melody to burst from our mouths!
streams to flow from our wasteland,
and rivers from barren plains.
We long to drink
of
real
water.
THE SECOND READING
James 2:1-5
Did not God choose those who are poor in the world
to be rich in faith?
Sometimes shabby is happy.
And fine clothes and
fine roof bring
woe!
Jesus,
we beg you,
take us into your poverty.
Make us rich
in love.
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