Our readings today tell us about how much those who are poor and marginalized have to teach us about faith. Fr. Joseph Dickan, SJ, reflects on how God teaches us how to listen and follow him through those who the world might otherwise ignore. Based on the readings for the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Have you ever heard a poor person proclaim the Gospel?
Hi, I’m Father Joseph Dickan, and this is my one-minute homily.
Today’s reading from James teaches that God’s vision of the Church is greater than ours.
“God [chose] those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith,” and so we’re invited to learn from the unique witness of those on the margins of our Church and society.
In the Gospel, Jesus affirms this as he heals someone isolated by his society–a deaf man with a speech impediment.
Jesus tells the man, “Be opened,” and the man’s mouth and ears are opened. But just as importantly, Jesus wants the mouths, ears, and hearts of the townspeople to be opened through this man’s faith.
Mark tells us that the man responded to Jesus by speaking plainly; imagine what he says. His words proclaim God’s compassion for all people. And his faith opens the hearts of his neighbors, who now proclaim Jesus with him.
Who are these witnesses of God’s faithfulness in our own communities? And how can we lift up their voices?
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