We first hear about “ears opening and tongues being released” in the Gospel of Mark when he recounts to us the story of a deaf man with a speech impediment, who was miraculously healed by Jesus. As Christians, we know that Jesus did not just heal this poor man’s body of ailment but also his suffering spirit; he physically made this man well but, more importantly, he made him a more loving, accepting and compassionate human being.

This Scripture passage teaches us a valuable lesson about opening our ears and loosening our tongues. If we do not surrender ourselves to God’s love, then how can we become the loving person God intended us to be? God’s plan for us here on Earth is to reach the potential He knows we are capable of reaching, and by following the commandment “love your neighbour as yourself,” we are on the right road to accomplishing this.

In essence, Christian unity is all about realizing we are all children of God and that God loves  each and every one of us. At times, diversity and differences can be daunting, but we have to make acceptance a priority in our lives.

By using our senses, we see the beauty in the world and by loosening our tongues, we can show this divine beauty to other people. Love is the most precious gift of all and it is a gift that needs to be shared with others. Let’s not focus on the negative aspects of our lives but instead, try to work for positive relationships, harmony and peace.   

It is often hard for us to humble ourselves and to be poor in spirit; people who see a true need for God in their lives. However, if we surrender ourselves entirely to God’s plan for us, we can’t go wrong. Trusting in Him and loving Him means trusting in and loving others; whether or not they are Catholic.  By listening with our hearts, instead of our ears, we are not only enabling ourselves to hear God’s voice in our everyday lives, but also to hear what God is calling us to do.

So, how can we use our ability to listen and speak to help those who are suffering? The poor, the sick, the homeless and the outcast have a voice, yet they are not heard. We can be heard if we just step up to the plate and take action by accepting all people into our faith, by setting a Christian example, by following the Scriptures and by standing up against injustices committed.

No one is suppressing our thoughts and feelings, opinions and ideas, on the contrary, our society promotes freedom of speech. So why don’t we make the most of our God-given talent and make a difference in the life of another.

So today, take the opportunity to reach out with greater love and compassion to all those in need and who, just like the deaf man in Jesus’ story, do not have a voice.