Daily Catholic Lectio
Fri, 14 February ‘25
Fifth Week in Ordinary Time – Friday
Genesis 3:1-8. Psalm 32. Mark 7:31-37
Everything well!
Today’s Gospel reading unfolds in two parts: (a) Jesus’ miraculous healing; (b) The people’s response to His power.
Jesus heals a man who is deaf and has difficulty speaking. However, unlike many of His other miracles, this healing occurs in a unique way. Jesus takes the man aside, away from the crowd. He performs symbolic gestures, much like the rabbis and healers of His time. Finally, He utters the powerful word: “Ephphatha!” (“Be opened!”) The man’s ears are opened, his tongue is loosened, and he begins to speak clearly.
The people, witnessing this, praise Jesus with the exclamation: “How wonderfully He does everything!”
This miracle serves as a foreshadowing of a greater revelation—soon, the truth about Jesus’ identity will be fully revealed.
Opening of the eyes: A contrast in Genesis
In contrast, today’s first reading from Genesis narrates the deception of Eve by the serpent. The serpent tells her: “If you eat the forbidden fruit, your eyes will be opened.”
Eve sees the fruit. Nothing happens.
She touches the fruit. Still, nothing happens.
She eats the fruit. Nothing changes.
She gives it to Adam. No immediate change.
But as soon as Adam eats it, “their eyes were opened.”
At this moment, guilt and shame enter human history.
Unlike the man in the Gospel, whose opened ears and mouth led to praise and healing, Adam and Eve’s opened eyes lead them to fear and hiding from God.
The responsibility lies with Adam – God had directly given him the command, and the sin is complete when he disobeys.
A lesson for us
When God opens our mouths, we praise Him. When we attempt to open our eyes through disobedience, we end up hiding from Him. Let us choose to allow God to open our hearts, ears, and mouths in His time and in His way.
May our words and actions reflect God’s goodness, so that others may see His presence through our lives, just as the people praised Jesus, saying: “He has done everything wonderfully!”
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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