First Reading (Genesis 3,1-8).
Reading of the Book of Genesis.
The serpent was the most cunning of all the beasts of the field that the Lord God had made. She said to the woman, “Is it true that God said to you, ‘You shall not eat of any of the trees of the garden?'” And the woman answered the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. But of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God said to us, ‘Do not eat of it or even touch it, otherwise you will die.'” The serpent said to the woman, “No, you will not die. your eyes will open, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The woman saw that it would be good to eat from the tree, as it was attractive to the eyes and desirable for gaining knowledge. And she picked some fruit, ate it, and gave it to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then, both of their eyes opened; and when they saw that they were naked, they wove loincloths for themselves out of fig leaves. When they heard the voice of the Lord God, who was walking through the garden in the afternoon breeze, Adam and his wife hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 7,31-37).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus left the region of Tire again, passed through Sidonia and continued to the Sea of Galilee, crossing the region of the Decapolis. Then they brought a deaf man, who spoke with difficulty, and asked Jesus to lay his hand on him. Jesus walked away with the man, out of the crowd; then he put his fingers in his ears, spat and touched his tongue with the saliva. Looking at the sky, he sighed and said: “Efatá!”, which means: “Open up!” Immediately his ears opened, his tongue loosened, and he began to speak without difficulty. Jesus insistently recommended that they not tell anyone. But the more he recommended, the more they spread the word. Very impressed, they said: “He has done all things well: He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the readings invite us to reflect deeply on our relationship with God and our neighbors. There are two central themes that emerge: the separation from God caused by sin and the restoration of the communion that only Jesus can offer. Both passages bring us to a confrontation with the reality of human frailty, but they also reveal to us the beauty of divine grace.
I would like to start with an image: imagine a perfect garden. In this garden, all the trees are loaded with delicious fruits, the animals live in harmony and there is a constant freshness in the air. This is the Garden of Eden, the place where God placed Adam and Eve, our first parents. It was not only a place of physical beauty, but also of deep intimacy with God. Every step they took was in the company of the Creator. Every sound on the wind seemed like a divine whisper. But then, something changed.
The serpent, more cunning than any animal, enters the scene and plants a doubt in Eve’s heart: “Is that what God said? Shall ye not eat of any tree in the garden?” (Gen 3:1). Here we see the beginning of all sin: doubt about the goodness of God. Brethren, how does this resonate in our lives today? How often do we allow doubt about God’s love or His providence to enter our hearts? How many times have we heard the “serpents” of modern society tell us that God’s plan is not enough for our happiness?
The temptation continues, and Eve, looking at the forbidden fruit, finds it “good for eating, pleasing to the eye and desirable for giving wisdom” (Gen 3:6). She takes it and eats it, and also gives it to Adam. In an instant, the harmony of Eden is shattered. Their eyes are opened, but not to divine wisdom; they open themselves to shame. For the first time, they feel the need to hide from God.
Here is a powerful metaphor: sin separates us from God and makes us believe that we need to hide from Him. Like Adam and Eve, we often cover ourselves with spiritual “fig leaves” – excuses, justifications and masks – thinking we can hide our flaws. But God, in His mercy, comes to meet us. He walks through the garden and asks, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9). This isn’t just a question for Adam and Eve; is a question for each of us.
Now, let’s go to the Gospel, where we find Jesus in a region of Gentiles, in the Decapolis. He is introduced to a man who is deaf and has difficulty speaking. Here is a man isolated by his condition, unable to hear the words of comfort and hope, unable to fully express what he feels. He is, in some ways, an image of fallen humanity: unable to hear God’s voice and respond to Him appropriately.
But look what Jesus does. He does not simply heal the man from a distance or with a quick word. He takes him aside, touches his ears and tongue, looks up at the sky and sighs deeply before saying: “Ephatah!”, which means “Open up!” (Mc 7,34).
This scene is loaded with meaning. Jesus’ touch is a sign of His closeness, of His desire to come into our lives and transform our condition. He not only restores this man’s hearing and speech; He reintegrates him into the community, restoring his dignity.
Now, let us reflect: how many times have we become like the deaf man, unable to hear God’s voice because of the noise of the world? How many times does our tongue get stuck, unable to praise God or speak words of love and truth to others? We also need the “Ephatah” of Jesus in our lives. We need Him to open our ears to hear His word and loose our tongues to proclaim His glory.
Let us see, then, the connection between these readings. In Genesis, sin closes the human heart to God, leading to alienation and isolation. But in the Gospel, Jesus shows us that He came to open what was closed by sin. He calls us back into communion with God and others.
Think of a rusty door that hasn’t been opened for years. It creaks, resists, but, with the right force, can be unlocked and reopened. This is what our hearts are like when we allow Jesus to touch them. He is the key that unlocks the doors that sin has closed.
And what does this mean for us, concretely? First, it means we must listen. Hear the word of God, hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in our consciences and hear the cry of those in need around us. How often do we become deaf to the needs of others because we are too busy with our own concerns?
Second, it means we must speak. Speak words of forgiveness, words of encouragement, words that build up. We live in a world where words often hurt, divide and spread hate. But as disciples of Christ, we are called to use our words to build bridges, bring peace, and witness to God’s love.
Ultimately, it means we must allow Jesus to touch us. This requires vulnerability, brothers. It means admitting that we are deaf in certain areas, that our tongues are tied by fear or indifference. But if we let Him touch us, He will transform us.
As we close this reflection, I invite everyone to a moment of silence. Let us close our eyes and ask Jesus to also say to us: “Ephatah! Open up!” May He open our ears to His word, our eyes to His presence, and our hearts to His grace.
May the Lord help us to live like those who have been restored by Him: listening, speaking and acting according to His will. And when we feel that the weight of sin or doubt is pulling us away from God, let us remember that He always walks in the garden of our lives, calling, “Where are you?” May we respond to Him with confidence and love, knowing that in Christ there is always a way home.
Amen.
