ACC ~ Mark 7 v34

THE MYSTERY OF OPENING

AMBROSE: Every sabbath we witness the “opening up” of a mystery. It is in outline form the type of that liturgical opening when the minister once touched your ears and nostrils. [1] What does this mean? Remember in the Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ, when the deaf and dumb man was presented to him, touched his ears and his mouth: the ears, because he was deaf; the mouth, because he was dumb. And he said: “Ephphatha,” a Hebrew word, which in Latin means adaperire [be opened]. In this way the minister is now touching your ears, that your ears may be opened to this sermon and exhortation. ON THE MYSTERIES 1.4. [2]

[1] At baptism and chrismation.

[2] Cetedoc 0155, 1.2.15.9; FC 44:269**; cf. NPNF 2 10:317. Listening to the gospel preached in the sabbath service is a recapitulation of the liturgical opening that occurs when the minister touches ears and nostrils in baptismal chrismation. This sort of opening of the ears occurs upon meeting the living Word.

PETITION FOR AN OPEN WAY

AMBROSE: So open your ears and enjoy the good odor of eternal life which has been breathed upon you by the grace of the sacraments. This we pointed out to you as we celebrated the mystery of the opening and said: “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened,” so that everyone about to come to the table of grace might know what he was asked and remember the way he once responded. Christ celebrated this mystery in the Gospel, as we read, when he healed the one who was deaf and dumb. ON THE MYSTERIES 1.3-4. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 0155, 1.3.90.12; FC 44:6**.