Our gospel today tells us a beautiful story of a healing of a deaf-mute by Jesus Christ.  It is something that had hit me so close during our Mass this morning when one of the young people near our altar is a deaf-mute too.  He has been coming to our Eucharistic celebrations for about a year with his parents and elder sister.  I recently had a chance to talk to him when they came early for the Mass, inviting him to be an altar server when his parents interjected and told me about his condition.  I felt his sadness as he looked at his parents telling me his condition; and to cheer him up, I tried using hand signals to ask him if he might still want to become a sacristan as we are willing to make necessary adjustments for him.  During our Mass this morning when I saw him, I used some sign languages while delivering my homily so he could follow our reflections.  And I felt so blessed when I saw him smiled, as if telling me, he had understood my homily even a little.

            Unlike the blind, people with hearing disabilities are often left unnoticed if not ignored unless we are told or we discover their condition.  For our Sunday music, we pray for those with hearing disabilities as we thank God for the gift of hearing.  Here is Scottish singer-songwriter Ali Thomson with his 1980 hit “Take a Little Rhythm”, a feel good music, inviting us like Jesus in the gospel to be opened especially to those with hearing disabilities.Fr.NicanorF.LalogII,ParokyaNgSanJuanApostolAtEbanghelista, Gov.F.HaliliAve.,Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan. (Photo by author, Mines View Park, Baguio City, 17 January 2018.)

             Today we conclude the “bread of life discourse” by Jesus Christ found in the sixth chapter of John’s gospel.  The people who have followed Him four Sundays ago after the miraculous feeding of more than 5000 abandon Him after being disillusioned with His claims that He is “the bread who came down from heaven…that the food He would give is His flesh and the drink He would give is His blood.”  Only the Twelve Apostles would stay with Jesus.

              Sometimes in life, we get disillusioned with people, with organizations and institutions including the Church, and even with God Himself.  And it is always easy to leave, to resign when we are disillusioned.  Here is Al Green with his classic “Let’s Stay Together” to soothe you and give you more reasons to remain with your loved ones despite the pains and hurts in life.  The music is soooo good that it is worth listening to the other versions of this Motown classic.  Sing – and dance – if you want to enjoy.  Most of all, remain in Jesus.