THERE is a Catholic social service center in Pampanga, the province where I grew up in the Philippines, named Ephphatha, an Aramaic word that means “Be opened.” The word is found in this Sunday’s Gospel in the story of the deaf man that Jesus healed.
I used to visit this center every time I would come to the Philippines, especially during my younger years as a priest. It’s a place where poor people would come for help. The center would provide shelter, financial aid and livelihood to the poor, particularly during that period when the notorious volcano, Mt. Pinatubo, erupted and left thousands people without homes and livelihood.
I came to see the center again during my visit to the Philippines last January. It still operates, although I have little knowledge of programs now. I heard that it has expanded its mission to providing a venue for conferences and retreats. Next door to it is a home for retired, sick, and aging priests.
I just hope that it continues to be true to its name—a place where people find hope in difficult times, where its doors are always open to anyone in need.
“Ephphatha! — that is, “Be opened!” the Lord, Jesus, told the deaf man in the Gospel this Sunday after he put his finger into the man’s ears, touched his tongue with saliva he just spat, looked up to heaven and groaned in prayer. Immediately, the Gospel says, the man’s ears were opened and his speech impediment was removed and he spoke plainly.
Should this Gospel mean more than just physical healing? Should it also mean healing from an inability to hear the needs of the poor, the weak, and the alienated, and the incapacity to speak in their behalf?
There are still millions of people in the world who are desperate for people to listen to and to advocate for their needs. They are people who are looking for hearts that are open to respond to their sufferings. They are refugees from war-torn countries who left their homes because of fear of oppression and massacre. They are illegal immigrants who escaped poverty in their homelands or migrant workers who sacrifice leaving their families to provide them with food, home, and education. They are faithful people in parishes who are looking for pastors who are accessible, caring, compassionate, and sensitive to their spiritual needs. They are oppressed women and children who do not have a voice in the society or who are abducted and sold for profit.
Ephphatha! Let the world be healed from its indifference of the plight of the destitute. Let each of us be healed of self-centeredness and greed. Let’s be like Jesus and reach out to those who feel alienated in the society. Let’s ask God to open our ears, eyes, mouths, and hearts to the poor and the weak among us.
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From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
