A man who was deaf and theretore also had an impediment in his

speech was brought to Jesus (Mark 7:31-37). In the same way, all are

ov nature deat toward God and theretore also unable to contess the faith

rightly. for faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of

Christ (Rom. 10:9-17). Jesus put His fingers into the man's ears, and

Af spar and touched mis

tongue. Even sO IN Holy baptism, wate

sanctified b the words of Jesus mouth is applied to us; and the tinger

Of God, that IS, the life-giving Holy Spirit (< (or. 5:4-11) IS put into our

ears in the hearing of the baptismal Gospel. Jesus' sighing "Ephphatha

opened the mans ears, and his tongue was loosed to speak plainly a:

Isaiah Drophesied of the Messiah. "In that dav the deaf shall hear the

words of a book (IS. 29:18-24) S0 alsO, He who sighed and breathed

His last on the cross for us has given us to hear and believe in Him and

has opened our lips that our mouths may declare His praise.