Ordinary 23

Isaiah brings a message of hope. The eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be cleared. Jesus opens the ears of a deaf man. We use the Ephphata prayer in Baptism.

Are there parts of God's message we block in our hearing? What are the impediments to our hearing the Word of God? Are we eager to hear it? Are we afraid that if we hear God's word we may have to change?

The principle of "Shema", to hear and obey.