Gospel: February 14, 2025

February 14, 2025 (Friday)

5th Week in Ordinary Time

Psalter: Week 1 / (White)

St. Cyril, monk, St. Methodius, bishop

Ps 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7

Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.

1st Reading: Genesis 3:1-8

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Again, Jesus set out: from the country of Tyre he passed through Sidon and, skirting the sea of Galilee, he came to the territory of Decapolis. There, a deaf man, who also had difficulty in speaking, was brought to him. They asked Jesus to lay his hand upon him. Jesus took him apart from the crowd, put his fingers into the man’s ears, and touched his tongue with spittle.

Then, looking up to heaven, he said with a deep sigh, “Ephphata!” that is, “Be opened!” And immediately, his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly. Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone about it; but the more he insisted, the more they proclaimed it. The people were completely astonished and said, “He has done all things well; he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”

See Also

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Reflection:

“Be opened.”

We can imagine the serpent hissing in the woman’s ear, whispering lies and distorted truths. Eve listens to words of falsehood and flattery, and she is tempted to disobey God. The serpent implies that God is keeping Adam and Eve blind to their full potential, but once they have disobeyed God, their eyes are opened to the truth of their sin, and they realize that they are naked. Rather than being clothed in God’s care and in their union with him, they now feel naked and alone. They now see that they have pushed God away, and they become afraid of him.

The first reading has a whispering that leads to sorrow and sin. The Gospel has a breathing and sighing that brings new life and joy. “Ephphata,” be opened, says Jesus, and the deaf man’s ears can hear again. Jesus touches the man, and creates him anew, liberating him. May we not hide from God in fear, but approach him with confidence, acknowledging our faults. May the Lord open the eyes of our minds and the ears of our hearts that we may recognize his ways and follow them.