Again 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.”
CONOCE A NUESTRA FAMILIA EXTENDIDA:
meet our extended family
Bl. Vilmos Apor (Feast Day May 23)
1892 - 1945
Vilmos Apor de Altorja was a Hungarian Roman Catholic bishop, born in Ségesvár, Transylvania (at that time, Hungary, now Romania). He was a baron in the noble Apor Family and served as a bishop during World War II. He became famous for his steadfast commitment to the poor. During the persecution of the Jews, he actively defended the persecuted and employed all his contacts in favor of those seeking refuge; the episcopal estates, convents and hospitals gave shelter to the needy. He was a gentle and kind person and dedicated himself to opposing both communism and Nazism. He used his sermons as a chance to condemn them, though coming at a great personal risk to himself. On Good Friday 1945, he sacrificed his life for his faithful while defending the women hidden in the cellar of the episcopal palace against abuse from violent Soviet soldiers. The bullets that penetrated his body formed the shape of a cross.
The beatification process opened on 5 March 1991 and culminated after Pope John Paul II presided over the beatification in Saint Peter's Square on November 9, 1997.
TOMA TIEMPO PARA COMPARTIR
Take time to chat
⦁ Imagine you are the man in the story. What is it like to encounter Jesus so intimately?
⦁ Consider the people who brought the deaf man to Jesus. How are we called to be like them?
⦁ Why do you think Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone about the healing?
⦁ Bl. Vilmos Apor sacrificed his life defending others. Share a time when you defended someone from harm or harsh words.
ORACIÓN FAMILIAR
Family Prayer
5 Finger Prayer
We hear in today’s Gospel of Jesus using his finger to heal the deaf man. Pope Francis created a 5-Finger prayer where each finger has a specific intention. Name the intention for that finger and then allow family members to share any intentions they have in that area.
⦁ Thumb: Pray for those closest to you.
⦁ Index Finger: Pray for those who heal, instruct, and teach you, that God may help them as they direct others.
⦁ Middle Finger: Pray for those in authority, like our government leaders, that God may guide them.
⦁ Ring Finger: Pray for the weak among us—the poor, the sick, the excluded, and those facing other difficulties.
⦁ Pinkie Finger: Pray for yourself. It is easier to pray for your needs once you have prayed for the other four areas.
