Daily Inspiration

“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." -Mark 7:31-37

As a child, I suffered a severe speech impediment, which left one-third of the alphabet outside of my command. I spoke very little since no one could understand my words. The first time I ever heard the voice, which would return to me at critical times throughout my life, was at Mass one Sunday when I was nine.

A golden light filled the church, and the voice said, “You know, you can speak like them.” Time slowed for me, and as the congregation spoke, they held each sound I struggled for years to pronounce. I had time to listen and learn how to form the sounds that were impossible for me to make.

I have shared this miracle with very few until now, but today, this reading has spurred me to proclaim that Christ has done all things well. Jesus used the people around me to heal me as if they were His fingers placed in my ears. The words the faithful spoke at Mass opened my ears, letting me hear those sounds as if for the first time.

Have faith, my friends. So often, we look for God to work miracles in our lives, but sometimes, He uses us to bring miracles into the lives of others. And yes, God’s perfect humor is not lost on me. I am well aware that although now I’m always speaking, my words can still be so tough to understand.

Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, pray for us.

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Jesus, I trust in you!