Today is Friday the 13th of February, in the 5th week of Ordinary Time.

Juliano Ravanello sings Veni Creator Spiritus: Come, Creator Spirit.

Veni Creator Spiritus

Mentes tuorum visita

Imple superna gratia

Quae tu creasti pectora

Qui diceris Paraclitus

Donum Dei altissimi

Fons vivus ignis caritas

Et spiritalis unctio

Tu septiformis munere

Dextrae Dei tu digitus

Tu rite promissum Patris

Sermone ditans guttura

Accende lumen sensibus

Infunde amorem cordibus

Infirma nostri corporis

Virtute firmans perpeti

Hostem repellas longius

Pacemque dones protinus

Ductore sic te praevio

Vitemus omne noxium

Per te sciamus da Patrem

Noscamus atque Filium

Te utriusque Spiritum

Credamus omni tempore

Amen

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come

from thy bright heav'nly throne;

come, take possession of our souls,

and make them all thine own.

Thou who art called the Paraclete,

best gift of God above,

the living spring, the living fire,

sweet unction and true love.

Thou who art sevenfold in thy grace,

finger of God's right hand;

his promise, teaching little ones

to speak and understand.

O guide our minds with thy blest light,

with love our hearts inflame;

and with thy strength, which ne'er decays,

confirm our mortal frame.

Far from us drive our deadly foe;

true peace unto us bring;

and through all perils lead us safe

beneath thy sacred wing.

Through thee may we the Father know,

through thee th'eternal Son,

and thee the Spirit of them both,

thrice-blessed three in One.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 7:31-37

Then [Jesus] returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impedimentin his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’

In today’s passage, Jesus continues further into Gentile territory. Let us take our own imaginative journey to join the disciples—walking among the hills of the Decapolis, now welcoming the people who come to listen and to ask for healing. As you observe quietly and attentively, you see the man being brought forward. What do you imagine is going through his mind as the crowd’s expectation hums around them both?

Jesus seems to have no issue with public healing, yet this man is deaf and unable to speak - trapped in his inner world. Notice how Jesus takes him aside privately. This small act acknowledges the man’s dignity; he will not be made a spectacle. How does this invite you to reflect on your own personal relationship with Jesus? Do these moments draw you beyond the noise of the world?

The command “Be opened”- Ephphatha - is gentle yet powerful. That Mark chooses to preserve the word in Aramaic echoes the intimacy of the encounter. This is Jesus’ own word, carried across the centuries.

How do you respond to this command? What needs to be opened - your ears to listen, your heart to forgive, your mind to perceive God’s action?

As you listen to the passage again, notice how the delight of the crowd cannot be contained - healing and grace overflow naturally. Recall a moment of joy God has brought about in your life recently, something you might share quietly or boldly.

Mark 7:31-37

Then [Jesus] returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impedimentin his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’

“He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Jesus invites us to be opened. In prayer, speak to the Lord about what has been opened in you today.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen