Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-52) - Ephphatha!

Dearest Goddaughter,

I love baptizing babies and toddlers. I also pray for them and their parents and godparents because it is the responsibility of the parents (with the help of the godparents) to teach and form their children in the Catholic faith. I tell parents that the greatest legacy and gift that they can leave their children is a robust faith in God through Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit. This means that the parents and godparents must also be strong in their Catholic faith.

One of my favorite parts of the Rite of Baptism is the Ephphatha, which has its origin from today's Gospel. The people brought to Jesus a "deaf man who had a speech impediment." Jesus "put his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!"). . . immediately the man's ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed. . ."

After I do the Sign of the Cross on the ears and mouth of the child, I invite the parents and godparents to do the same. I share with them this story in the Gospel and explain that their (god)child's  ears are now open to hear God's words through His Word and speak His Truth for others. But, first, the parents and godparents, along with their families and the support of their parish family, must form the child in the Catholic faith. The parents are the heads of their family - the domestic church - in communion with the Catholic Church. 

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 kgs 11:29-32; 12:19 and Mk 7:31-37 (below).

. . .

Jesus left the district of Tyre

and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,

into the district of the Decapolis.

And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment

and begged him to lay his hand on him.

He took him off by himself away from the crowd.

He put his finger into the man's ears

and, spitting, touched his tongue;

then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,

"Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!")

And immediately the man's ears were opened,

his speech impediment was removed,

and he spoke plainly.

He ordered them not to tell anyone.

But the more he ordered them not to,

the more they proclaimed it.

They were exceedingly astonished and they said,

"He has done all things well.

He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."