Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Isaiah 35:4-7, James 2:1-5, and Mark 7:31-37. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 146 (Psalm 146:7-10).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 146 "An Invitation to Praise God the Creator and Redeemer"

The Gospel reading is as follows:

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."

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 6, 2015)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflection: Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 6, 2015)

Community in Mission: The Lord Hath Given a Well-Trained Tongue - A Homily for the 23rd Sunday of the Year (5 SEP 15)

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Showing Off or Compassion? The Miracles of Jesus

The Deacon's Bench: Homily for September 6, 2015: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (5 SEP 15)

Word on Fire: Ephphatha (Cycle B * Ordinary Time * Week 23)

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology: All Things Well: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (31 AUG 15)

CWR: The Dispatch: The Gnostic Christ fails, the True Christ heals (5 SEP 15)

Spirituality of the Readings: He Began to Teach Them (23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time B)

Let the Scriptures Speak: The Mute Will Sing (23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time B)

The Word Embodied: “Faith, Yes, But ... ” (23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time B)

Historical Cultural Context: Deaf and Mute (23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time B)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Lawrence of Brindisi (23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time B)

Word to Life Radio Broadcast: Jim Reyland's "Stand" (4 SEP 15)