OMIWORLD

“Focus, Listen, Ponder…”

The Eucharistic celebration, marking the conclusion of the 5-week-long Plenary Session, was presided by Fr. Chicho, the Superior General. Brother Noel GARCIA, OMI, Secretary General, delivered a touching reflection inspired by the Gospel story of the miraculous healing of a man with hearing and speech impediments. His message centered on “the three invitations: To focus, to listen, and to ponder!”

Throughout the Mass, members of the Central Government were invited to share symbols representing their prayer intentions and roles in ministry. Let’s offer our prayers for the Central Government as they journey ahead. Many of them will be immersing themselves in the Africa-Madagascar region in the coming weeks, preparing for the Joint Session in Senegal in March.

Here is Bro. Noel’s Reflection:

Allow me to share my reflection on the gospel reading today about the healing of a man with hearing impairment and speech impediment. There were three invitations here: To focus , listen and ponder

TO FOCUS: Jesus took the man aside in private, away from the crowd. The man was  hearing impaired and speech impeded. He was not blind. His sight is intact. Jesus took the man so that his eyes could set focus on him, on his face. To be with him and only with him. Jesus through his action was probably telling him focus your sight on me. I am with you when the moment I heal you. I will be your anchor when the moment you will hear a lot of sounds. You will be confused, you will be rattled with the sounds you hear. I am with you in the midst of confusion, just focus on me.

TO LISTEN: Then Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ear and touched his tongue with spittle. Jesus put his fingers in his ear before touching the tongue. What if Jesus touched  the tongue first then his ears, will that make a difference on the man? Though hearing and speaking are both important to the life of person, it seemed that Jesus highlighted the value of listening first before speaking. When Jesus looked up and said “Ephphatha!” He heard,  for the first time in his life, a voice, and it was THE VOICE OF JESUS.  Listen to my voice. I want you to hear my voice first

TO PONDER: Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone about the healing. I reflected on this, some commentaries said that it was for Jesus’ protection. But as I reflect on this action, probably it is also giving time to associate the face of Jesus with his voice and distinguish this  among the voices, among the noises he would be hearing for the first time as he  joined the crowd. Allowing the experience to sink in, to take root in the man who was healed as well as the crowd which can impact their lives in the long run. Let me root in you.

As we close our first  plenary session in 2024, and following days we are heading off to our journey to make our fraternal visit  to the different units in the Africa and Madagascar Region,. We may encounter men and women who are figuratively with hearing impairment or with speech impediment or we ourselves be like him. We just have to remember to focus on Jesus through the mandates of the Chapter, the values Oblate religious missionary  … listen to His voice among the voices we will hear… and ponder… and then we could truly speak with confidence because it coming from the very root of our Jesus experience.

Brother Noel GARCIA, OMI
Secretary General