Of all the things I enjoy doing as a priest, Baptisms are up there. The family is always excited to bring their new child to the church and welcome them into the people of God, and the rite itself matches the joyful exuberance of bringing another soul into the Body of Christ. There are many parts of the rite that we can see, touch, and even smell. The water, the lighted candle, the baptismal garment, and my favorite, the chrism. I have been known to be somewhat aggressive in the application of the chrism, both because it is a symbol of the abundance of God’s grace anointing us as priest, prophet, and king, and because I like the way it smells. I want my hands to smell like it for the rest of that day.
 
The last rite within the order of baptism which takes place just before the blessing and dismissal is taken from today’s Gospel. It is called the “Ephphethah,” or the prayer over the ears and mouth. As the priest or deacon touches the ears and mouth of the child, he says, “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.”
 
The entire life of the Christian is symbolized and contained within the rite of baptism, and it is good for us to revisit it frequently and remember the promises which were made on our behalf on the day of our baptism as we ask God for the grace to live out these promises with fidelity. Today’s account of Jesus’ healing of the man who was deaf and mute gives us the opportunity to see how this relates to our own lives. After he was healed, those who were present to witness it couldn’t help but spread the news of this miracle, even when they were told to keep it secret for the time being. The fact that the Church places the memorial of this event at the conclusion of the rite is no accident, as everything that is done to make us disciples in the first place is geared toward our mission of going out and proclaiming the Gospel to all those we meet.
 
As we meditate on this Gospel, perhaps we would do well to recall our baptismal promises and ask God to continue touching our ears that we might receive his word, and our mouth, that we might proclaim his faith to the praise and glory of God the Father.
 
Prayers always,
Fr. McCullough