“Ephphatha,” Jesus says, “Be Opened!” Our Lord has a way of restoring whatever is damaged or not functioning in us. That way is by His word. He speaks. We hear Him, perhaps as though for the first time! He speaks–He calls forth an audible in us. The Word is made flesh and sent to your flesh, saying:
“Let there be SOUND even in thine own dulled ear!”
The Sound of His Word resounds now in our ears. His voice proceeds from the moving lips of the Lord’s own blood-bought servants and His people. “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:40; Matt. 21:15-16) Even closed ears brought near to Him become opened to receive His restorative word. Here in faith, we hear Him! He speaks forth His forgiveness, comfort, encouragement, and peace.
May your ears “Be opened!” with ours this week, to all our Lord gives us to hear and to speak, to pray and to sing for each other’s blessings, in Christ Jesus.
9am Bible Class for All Ages
10am Divine Service with the Communion of Saints
Here are the readings for this coming 12th Sunday after Trinity…
Isaiah 29:17-24 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 Is it not yet a very little while
until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
18 In that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,
and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the ruthless shall come to nothing
and the scoffer cease,
and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,
21 who by a word make a man out to be an offender,
and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.
22 Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:
“Jacob shall no more be ashamed,
no more shall his face grow pale.
23 For when he sees his children,
the work of my hands, in his midst,
they will sanctify my name;
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who murmur will accept instruction.”
2 Corinthians 3:4-11 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
Mark 7:31-37 English Standard Version (ESV)
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
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Isaiah 50:4 Blues 