"STAY WITH US, LORD" (Luke 24:29)

The Contrasting Identities We have been ushered into the 24th Sunday with readings from Isaiah (50:5-9), James (2:14-18) and Mark (8: 27-35) while the Psalmist affirms his position such that amidst the uncertainties of life he will "walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living" (Ps. 116: 9) The first reading opens with a beautiful declaration: "The Lord has opened my ear" (v. 5a). This declaration with the mention of the ear seem to carry the theme of last Sunday's reading with the whole issue about the 'ephphata' wherein we concluded that listening to God's Word is important. Today's first reading informs us about the challenges in resolving to listen only to God's Word and give it precedence.  This Sunday we have the second part of Isaiah which runs from chapters 40 to 55. Singularly, we have an excerpt from the 3rd Servant song in perspective. This servant suffers humiliation at his resolve to listen to God's voice as he ...

"Ephphatha" ('Eφφαθα) This Sunday we have yet another set of beautiful readings properly chosen to help our meditation. I believe that the readings are turning our attention toward the issue of the EAR and the TONGUE . This will be our focus as they are fundamental to Isaiah in the first reading (35: 4-7a), and Mark in the Gospel (7:31-37).  Now, we have to be aware that we are reading from the first part of Isaiah, properly towards the end of the first part of Isaiah. Here, the author tells us about the promise of salvation of Israel. The message of the promise of salvation includes four (4) groups of people — the blind, the DEAF, the lame and the MUTE/DUMB . In Isaiah, we are told that the salvation will also include the opening of rhe the ears of the deaf (v. 5b) and that the tongue of the mute will sing for joy (v. 6b).  This passage from Isaiah, I propose, has to be read with the whole issue of the Emmanuel, the issue of the restoration of Israel and Jerusalem after...