Ephatha – Be Opened
We learn to speak by imitating the sounds we hear. Deaf people cannot speak in most cases. By healing the deaf man, our Lord also healed his speech impediment. Now he could not only hear the Good News-he could share it too.
God’s Manual for the Heart
Jesus said that it is not what we eat, but what we think that defiles us. The heart needs to be retrained according to God’s statues so that we, coached by the Holy Spirit, may produce good thoughts and do good things.
Bread that Heals
Most of us are very careful with the bread we buy. It has to be just right. Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will never die.
Be Tenderhearted
The word the Apostle Paul used for what we translate “tenderhearted” is epieikaia. Literally “be kind all around.” That is a most difficult thing to do, but since Christ accepts us – we can accept others.
The Lord Always Provides
When the people of Israel saw the bread come down on the desert floor they asked: “What is it?” (manna, in Hebrew). They were totally dependent on the Lord, and the Lord did not let them down!