Readings
I - 1Kings 11: 29-32; 12: 19
II - Mk. 7: 31-37
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
Today the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The apparition at Lourdes, France took place in 1858, after the declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mother Mary. The little girl Bernadette Sourbiroux was told to ask the name of the Lady who appeared to her and the Lady responded saying, “I am the Immaculate Conception”. The apparition indeed was an affirmation on the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother, ever virgin. Mother Mary had appeared eighteen times to this little girl insisting on, “Pray to God for the conversion of sinners”. Today’s Gospel passage is about Jesus healing the deaf and the dumb man, saying “Ephphatha” (“Be opened”). May we through the intercession of our Blessed Mother implore Jesus to look at us also and say, “Ephphatha” so that we may open up our mind and heart to the Word of God and be back on the track of God that leads to holiness and fullness of life.
St. Pope John Paul II declared this day as the ‘World Day of the Sick’, that serves as a purpose of reminding the healing ministry of the Church. The day is also dedicated to gratefully remember all who strive to restore the health of the sick: the doctors, nurses, care takers, health workers… In the first part of the Gospel passage of the day we read, some men brought the deaf and the dumb man to Jesus and that made the healing possible for the person. As we are celebrating the ‘World Day of the Sick’ let us bring all our sick brethren through the intercession our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Lourdes, unto the compassion and mercy for God for their comfort, healing and restoration. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Mother Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us”.
