(Is.35:4-7a; Ps.146:2,6-10; Jas.2:1-5; Mk.7:31-37) "He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." The Lord makes all whole. He "sets captives free" from all their afflictions as He redeems us from all our sin. "Here is your God, He comes with vindication; with divine recompense He comes to save you." This is He who "has done all things well"; this is the Lord Jesus Christ. "And immediately the man's ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly." By a word: "'Ephphatha!' – that is, 'Be opened!'" the deaf mute is healed by Jesus, causing all to be "exceedingly astonished." And in their astonishment their eyes are opened, for "the Lord gives sight to the blind." And so He who sustains "the fatherless and the widow" and "gives food to the hungry" stands before the eyes of all now; and so indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared… Then the tongue of the dumb will sing." And so streams "burst forth in the desert" and "the lame leap like a stag," for He comes – He comes to heal all nations. Brothers and sisters, God chose "those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He promised to those who love Him." He chose the blind; He chose the lame; He chose the deaf and the mute – He chose the hungry and oppressed. He chose you and me in all our sin, in all our weakness before Him, and came to release us from all fear. Making no distinction except to favor the soul who thirsts for Him, He came bringing "springs of water." And these waters heal. And these waters set us free. And these waters remove our "shabby clothes" and don us "with gold rings and fine clothes" spun by the hand of God. Brothers and sisters, "adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ." For He is glorious indeed, and coming into His assembly with all your imperfections purged from your soul, you shall know such glory and not be able to withhold yourself from proclaiming such glory. Yes, you shall be one with "the Lord [who] shall reign forever." He shall be "your God, O Zion, through all generations," and with tongue loosened and renewed you shall sing "Alleluia" to the Lord forevermore. Know now His power upon you. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder" (2nd half) from Listening to the Lamp, ninth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, open our ears that we might hear your voice and follow in your way. YHWH, you chose the poor to inherit your kingdom. The deaf, the blind, the lame – to these you bring your healing touch. You come to those who recognize their need for you and take them to yourself. In your Son you fulfill your will for the good of all who desire you. For this we can but praise you. O LORD God, you keep faith forever, you eternally offer forth love to us, the rivers of grace known in the work of Jesus. You can but love us; you can but desire our good. For you are all good, you are all love, and so you look with pity upon those in need, upon fallen man so separated from your love. O may we all be cleansed of our sin! O may we all be made whole in your sight! Let the touch of your Son be upon us, dear LORD, that we might sing of your glory forever. O let our hearts be open to your love!