‘Be opened!’

Sept. 8, 2024—Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: Is 35: 4-7a; Ps 146, R. Praise the Lord, my soul!; Jas 2:1-5; Gospel – Mark 7: 31-37

One of my early instincts as a teacher, formator or mentor was the need to create the right environment for the goal that one wants to achieve in the formation of the people entrusted to my care.

As a fresh college graduate about to teach in my high school, Fr. Frank Reilly, S.J., one of my spiritual directors and mentors, wrote to me after our Holy Week retreat for college graduates: “Help the youth of the high school discover Christ in their life.”

This shaped my “rules and policies” in my classes, or as St. Ignatius of Loyola put it, “our way of proceeding.”

We started with a very disciplined way of praying, our reflection periods at the start of the day were well prepared, and every end of the period before lunch, I made it a point to go to my class to make sure we all prayed the Angelus together.

The “drills” paid off. It became second nature to my students after several weeks. This simple example shows us the importance of creating the right environment.

Our Lord showed this in today’s Gospel, as well as in other similar moments. He brought the deaf and mute man to a private space where he healed him. He created an environment of very personal care, a moment between him and the man.

This is the first point I invite you to reflect on and check our own dealings with people. How do we pay attention to creating the right environment?

In families, it is important to create a safe and sacred environment or space to facilitate the growth and development of its members, especially the younger ones. Such an environment allows them to be aware, to accept and to grow.

Part of the characteristics of such an environment is its being very personal, tailor-made, so to speak, for the person’s needs, desires and hopes. Grace is never generic.

Opportunities

The second point I offer for our reflection is the Lord’s final act in the healing story. “…then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’—that is, ‘Be opened!’” (cf. Markb7: 31-37)

“Be opened!” This is equivalent to what Chris Lowney wrote in his book, “Heroic Leadership.” Together with creating a caring environment is providing people with opportunities to achieve their full human potential.

It is opening for people a whole new world of opportunities to better themselves and the life of their families and loved ones.

“Be opened!” On a more personal level it is opening, clearing the obstacles to grace in one’s life and person. This leads to healing and wholeness.

Providing opportunities begins with empowering people to revive or reboot their hopes and dreams. Once rebooted, we must then provide concrete opportunities where they can work for a better life and future.

It is creating an environment of care and compassion, with opportunities for people to achieve their full human potential. This is what the Lord showed us in this Sunday’s Gospel.

As a third point for our reflection, let us commemorate the Nativity of Our Blessed Mother. The mysteries of her life remind us of the grace that we come into this world with a definite mission.

From the time of her conception, Dec. 8, she was destined to be the Mother of the Savior. This mission was revealed to her in the Annunciation of Our Lord, and to which she committed her “yes.”

Throughout the moments in her life we know of through scripture—the Visitation, the Nativity of Our Lord, the Presentation, the Finding in the Temple, the Passion and Cross, the Pentecost—her fidelity to and constancy in mission shone through.

She is truly our pattern and the epitome of Christian discipleship. As we remember and celebrate her nativity, may we renew our own commitment as followers of Jesus in mission.

In a special way, we pray we become instruments of creating environments of care and compassion and opening opportunities to the last, the lost, and the least of our society.