Daily Catholic Lectio. Fri, 13 February ‘26. Be opened

Daily Catholic Lectio

Fri, 13 February ‘26

Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Friday

1 Kgs 11:29–32; 12:19. Mk 7:31–37

Be opened

The Gospel today centres on one powerful word: “Ephphatha” — “Be opened!”

The passage unfolds in two movements. First, the miracle. Then, the response.

Jesus heals a man who is deaf and speaks with difficulty. But the way he heals him is striking. He takes him aside, away from the crowd. He touches his ears. He touches his tongue. He sighs. And then he speaks the word: “Ephphatha!” This resembles the gestures of the rabbis and healers of that time — physical signs that communicate care and intention.

Yet something deeper is happening.

This miracle is not performed for applause. It is intimate. Personal. Almost hidden. After healing the man, Jesus commands them not to tell anyone.

Why this silence?

From a literary perspective, the Gospel of Mark carefully preserves what scholars call the “messianic secret.” Until the right moment, Jesus’ identity is veiled. The question “Who is he?” unfolds gradually.

From a spiritual perspective, there is something even more profound: the experience of God is personal. No proclamation from others can replace it. Faith cannot be borrowed. Each one must encounter the Lord within.

But the second part of the Gospel tells us that the people cannot remain silent. They exclaim, “He has done everything well.” Their mouths are opened. The secret is slowly being unveiled.

The man’s ears are opened. His tongue is loosened. Then the mouths of the crowd are opened too.

In the rite of Baptism, we have a beautiful moment called the Ephphatha rite. The minister touches the ears and lips of the child and prays: “May you soon hear his word with your ears and profess the faith with your lips.”

Have we lived this grace?

Saint Paul reminds us: Faith comes by hearing. Hearing leads to obedience. When our ears no longer listen to the Word of God, when our mouths do not proclaim what is good, true, and life-giving, Jesus stands before us and says again: “Be opened!”

Sometimes our ears are closed — closed by noise, pride, distraction. Sometimes our tongues are tied — by fear, indifference, or compromise.

Today the Lord touches us again. “Be opened!”

The first reading speaks of division — the kingdom splits into North and South. Jeroboam governs Israel with ten tribes. Rehoboam governs Judah with two tribes. Kings change. Kingdoms divide. Political structures shift. But one reality remains: the Lord who chooses and guides history does not change. Even when ears are closed and hearts divided, God remains faithful.

Today let us pray for those who struggle with hearing and speaking. Let us pray that our own spiritual hearing may be restored.

May our ears be opened to the Word. May our tongues proclaim his goodness. And may the world, seeing our lives, say once again: “He has done everything well.”

And, He does everything well – even today!

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy