Introit: Ps. 70:2b, 4a, 5b; antiphon: Ps. 70:1-2a

Gradual: Ps. 34:1-2

Old Testament: Is. 29:17-24

Psalm 146 (antiphon: v. 8)

Epistle: 2 Cor. 3:4-11

      or Rom. 10:9-16

ProperVerse: Ps. 81:1

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Faith Comes from Hearing

A man who was deaf and therefore also had an impediment in his speech was brought to Jesus (Mark 7:31_37). In the same way, all are by nature deaf toward God and therefore also unable to confess 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 He spat and touched His tongue. Even so in Holy Baptism, water sanctified by the words of Jesus' mouth is applied to us; and the finger of God, that is, the life_giving Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:4_11) is put into our ears in the hearing of the baptismal Gospel. Jesus' sighing "Ephphatha" opened the man's ears, and his tongue was loosed to speak plainly as Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah, "In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book" (Is. 29:18_24) So 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.