THE MEMORIAL OF SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS.

THE MEMORIAL OF SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS. 

THE GOSPEL:

"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.” (Mark 7: 31 - 37).

Friday 14th of February 2025 in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the two great missionary brothers, Saints Cyril and Methodius (+869) & (+885),Priest and Bishop respectively. 

They evangelized parts of Europe in the 9th century, notably Moravia (present-day Czech Republic).  Pope St  John Paul II proclaimed them patron saints of Europe, along with St. Benedict, the abbot.

In the Gospel, Jesus heals a deaf and dumb man.

Jesus said to the man:

“Ephphatha!”—that is, “Be opened!”—And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly."

Isaiah prophesied:

 “Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!" (Isaiah 42:18) 

Jesus is the Messiah who heals the wounds and illnesses inflicted on humanity by sin. Jesus Christ is still healing in the world today. He is healing through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.

Open our ears O Father that we hear the word of Your Son Jesus. 

FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH CONSECRATED TO THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH. 

"The family is placed at the center of the great struggle between good and evil, between life and death, between love and all that is opposed to love" (Pope St. John Paul II) 

For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-holy-family-devotion.html