Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19
Jeroboam left Jerusalem,
and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road.
The two were alone in the area,
and the prophet was wearing a new cloak.
Ahijah took off his new cloak,
tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam:
“Take ten pieces for yourself;
the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp
and will give you ten of the tribes.
One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant,
and of Jerusalem,
the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’”
Israel went into rebellion against David’s house to this day.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 81:10-11ab, 12-13, 14-15
R. (11a and 9a) I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
"There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt."
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
"My people heard not my voice,
and Israel obeyed me not;
So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts;
they walked according to their own counsels."
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
"If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
Quickly would I humble their enemies;
against their foes I would turn my hand."
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
Alleluia See Acts 16:14b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mark 7:31-37
Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man's ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
"Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!")
And immediately the man's ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
"He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
February 13, 2026 // Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Mark 7:31-37
Reflect on the Word //
The church was quiet after evening Mass. I stayed in the pew, staring at the flicker of the sanctuary lamp. My prayer felt empty, like words falling into a void. I was listening, but could not seem to hear God’s voice or feel His presence. The silence pressed in, but then in the stillness this short phrase rose in my heart: Be opened.
In the Gospel of Mark, people brought a deaf man with a speech impediment to Jesus: “He took him off by himself, away from the crowd. He put His finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then He looked up to Heaven and said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (that is, ‘Be opened!’)” (Mark 7:33–34)
This healing is such a simple moment, so full of tenderness. Jesus does not speak from far away. He steps close with His healing touch. There is an intimacy in that gesture. The man is seen. He is not alone.
Sometimes I see myself in that man who needs to be opened. My ears can be slow to hear words of truth and encouragement. My voice does not always have the courage to speak up in difficult conversations. My heart sometimes freezes with hesitation or fear.
Yet Jesus does not turn away. He draws near. He meets the closed places of our hearts with gentleness. Just as He did for that deaf man, He proclaims, Be opened. Christ desires us to hear Him more clearly. He has an abundance of gifts to give. He slowly opens us to receive His life of grace. It is there that we find courage, freedom, and joy.
Sister, Christ still says, “Ephphatha!” to us today. Jesus opens our hearts gently to the depths of His mercy. When we let Him touch our closed-off places, grace rushes in. Listen carefully, because Jesus wants us to begin to hear His tender voice again.
Relate to the Lord // Spend five minutes in silence with the Lord today. Ask for the grace to be open to His voice and presence.
Rose Coleman is an elementary school teacher with a heart for pilgrimage. She traveled the globe on a ship during college and spent some years in the convent as a religious sister. She was a contributing author to All She Had, Blessed Conversations: Rooted, and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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