“Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God;
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense,
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.” (Isaiah 35:4-6)
Here is your God;
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense,
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.” (Isaiah 35:4-6)
We all need to hear these words during times of affliction. We seek relief from fear and discomfort, along with reassurance of hope and protection to soothe our spirits. The “seeing,” “hearing,” and “leaping” that we yearn for ourselves and others may not necessarily pertain to physical healing, but rather to an enlightenment from God that helps us understand, accept, and endure our suffering and pain. It entails the ability and wisdom to let go of control and fear, surrendering to God’s will.
The phrase “Be strong!” is not intended to deny or overlook our human weaknesses and emotions; instead, it encourages us to continue fulfilling our mission and purpose in life, preventing us from succumbing to pessimism and despair.
In a similar vein, the words of this Sunday’s Gospel, “Ephphatha!”—which means “Be opened!”—are meant to assure us that God desires to cleanse our minds and hearts of worldly delusions that leave us feeling empty and troubled.
This is why our Christian faith is such a gift—not because it always provides answers to life’s questions but because it grants us perseverance and hope.
In a similar vein, the words of this Sunday’s Gospel, “Ephphatha!”—which means “Be opened!”—are meant to assure us that God desires to cleanse our minds and hearts of worldly delusions that leave us feeling empty and troubled.
This is why our Christian faith is such a gift—not because it always provides answers to life’s questions but because it grants us perseverance and hope.
This gift is one that our children and youth need to cherish and embody in their own experiences of pain, suffering, confusion, and failure. We must equip them with a strong faith in God and a robust hope for their future.
Let us pray that each of us receives from God this gift of “seeing” and “hearing.” May we all cultivate the disposition to understand God’s will and find the strength to lead a purposeful, joyful, and faith-filled life!
Let us pray that each of us receives from God this gift of “seeing” and “hearing.” May we all cultivate the disposition to understand God’s will and find the strength to lead a purposeful, joyful, and faith-filled life!
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
