Collect for the Twenty Third Sunday of Year B

 

COLLECT SERIES

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT 

The Collect for the Twenty Third Sunday Year B reads as follows:

 

O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,

 look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters,

that those who believe in Christ may receive

true freedom and an everlasting inheritance.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
 

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1.What is it to be a son/daughter of God?

2. Do I truly consider myself to be a son/daughter of God?  What are the hindrances I experience accepting this truth?

3. What area in my life do I need God’s gracious look?

4. What does it mean for me to believe in Christ?  How does it change the way I live each day?

5. What is true freedom?

6. How will I live this coming week with my everlasting inheritance in mind?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

 The Gospel is from St Mark 7:31-38.  Jesus heals the deaf and dumb man.

There are a number of aspects to this Gospel.  However, I would like to turn our attention to our own deafness and dumbness whether it be physical, emotional and spiritual.  Many of us are blessed with good hearing and have the ability to speak clearly. 

Have we stopped to thank God for these gifts? 

Have we every stopped to pray for those who are deaf and have an impediment in speech? 

Have we  taken steps to have better diction especially if we are an lector for Mass?  Do we take the role of lector seriously proclaiming the Word of God?

 

Currently my parish priest has an impediment in his speech.  It has made me realise how difficult it is for him to communicate well and to be understood.  Many parishioners complain because they cannot understand him.  Many have gone to other parishes as they have given up trying to understand him.  However, it has made me acutely aware of the personal suffering he endures because of this condition.  I am sure he would love Jesus to touch his tongue and loosen the ligament so he could speak clearly again. It will be my prayer for him and for others who suffer in this way today as I attend Mass online. 

 

Of course, those people who have the condition of being deaf too can suffer as they can feel left out, ridiculed, alone.  Some give up attending functions because of it and feel socially isolated.  Even though there are huge advances in the technology for hearing aids, it is still not the same as one’s own physical hearing.

My parents both wore hearing aids in their advancing years.  I cared for them and I came to realise what it was like at a very human and personal level what it was like for them.  My dad was not fond of wearing his hearing aids.  He did not think he was deaf but he used to get out the hearing aids on Sunday along with him missal. When he came home, the aids would go back in the drawer until the following Sunday.

My mum decided that the hearing aids were best in the drawer until years later she attended a requiem Mass and decided that she had missed out on the homily.  She came home and wanted to wear the hearing aids.  Obviously we had to get new ones more suited to her needs at that time. I have to say that after that experience, mum used to wear the aids constantly.  I had to change the batteries regularly and also clean them.  Any build up of wax in the ear can cause them to whistle and make horrible noises.  Also if we were not placed in the ear correctly it affected her ability to hear.  Many of us are like that too- we may not wear hearing aids but it is as though we ae deaf to what others say, deaf to our surroundings and the needs of others.

 

However most of us have emotional and spiritual deafness and dumbness. Some of our emotional deafness and dumbness may be due to upbringing.  However, if we truly wish to be emotionally alert in our hearing and speech, we can learn again and seek help.

Are we deaf to what another person is saying?  Much of communication is said in body language.  Are we aware of this language in ourselves and in others?   Are we defensive when someone offers us constructive criticism and tune them out or are we open to hear what they are saying to us?

 

Then we may wish to consider our speech patterns.  Are we saying what we truly want to say or are we communicating mixed messages and hoping that others will pick up our clues?  How do we feel when we are truly heard, truly listened to and truly understood?  How often do I provide that type of active listening to others or am I only interested in what I want to say?

 

Are we deaf or do not communicate with God?  Do we tune Him out of our lives?  It is important to turn off the devices and set aside time for God regularly.  If we have not done this or have got out of the habit of spending time with God, then why not start again this week.

Jesus is our best friend.  What do we want to say to Him?  Imagine sitting there having a coffee with Jesus.  What would you want to say to Jesus?  What would Jesus say to you?  Good communication is a two way dialogue.  So we need to listen to the still whisper of Jesus?

 

This Gospel has a lot to offer us especially if we consider the above thoughts. Why not ponder and reflect upon this Gospel and what it means to you and with Jesus, come up with an action plan for this coming week?