Be Opened

 

 Readings 021326

Earlier this year, my daughter got married,
and two families came together —
one beautiful, blended family.
I officially have two new grandchildren —
but honestly, I’ve welcomed them from the start
so they felt seen…
felt safe…
felt loved.

But today, I learned how deep that love can reach.

Lillian loves basketball.
She plays hard, she plays with joy,
and Janet and I have made it to a few games —
usually slipping in after the whistle blows.

Then today she said,
“Pop and Nanny are at all of Carson’s games.
Please have Pop and Nanny come to my last game.
Tonight, my game is at 6:30.
Please ask them to be there.”

And something in me opened.
Something simple.
Something holy.

Because in her own way,
she was asking what God so often asks of us —
please… be there.

And that’s the heart of it.
God is always trying to open our hearts
and our lives
to His voice.

We see what happens when we don’t.
The kingdom fractures
when the people stop listening.
And God aches — truly aches —
for His people to hear Him again.

Then the Gospel brings it close,
right into the human story.
Jesus leans toward a man who cannot hear
and speaks the word every one of us needs:
“Ephphatha… be opened.”

Maybe that’s the invitation today —
to let love open what has been closed,
to hear the quiet requests of the people who need us,
to show up — fully, freely, joyfully —
because God is showing up for us.

Tonight, a little girl wants her Pop in the stands.
And I hear it.
I really hear it.

Be opened.
Be present.
Be love.

Prayer

Lord,  

 Open my heart to the ones who call for me.
Open my ears to the small voices that carry Your grace.
Open my eyes to the holy moments hidden in the ordinary.
Break through the noise that keeps me from hearing You.
Speak again Your word of life — Be opened.
Make me steady, make me willing, make me love.

Amen.