EPHPHATHA! (That is, “be opened!”)

If possible, adults who will receive initiation sacraments at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday might gather earlier in the day to celebrate the Ephphatha Rite.

Ephphatha is a Greek word, which means “be opened.” The rite opens the ears and the mouth of initiates and offers them grace to hear the word of God and profess it for their salvation.

In the rite, Mark’s gospel about the deaf man with a speech impediment is proclaimed:

“He then left Tyrian territory and returned by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee into the district of the ten cities. Some people brought him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him.

Jesus took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his fingers into the man’s ears and spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and emitted a groan. He said to him “Ephphatha! (That is, “Be opened!”).

At once the man’s ears were opened; he was freed from the impediment, and began to speak plainly. Then he enjoined them strictly not to tell anyone; but the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.

Their amazement went beyond all bounds. “He has done everything well! He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!” Mark 7:31-37

After the gospel reading, the rite continues with the Ephphatha blessing. Initiates are dismissed and return home where, as the rite instructs, they are encouraged to create time and quiet space to eliminate noise and distractions —becoming free from impediments — to be open to hearing and professing God’s word at the Easter Vigil.

Mark’s gospel is the first-written, shortest, most terse.“Their amazement went beyond all bounds” is Mark’s precise declaration that goodness and grace were witnessed and recognized by the crowd.

After the gospel reading, initiates come before the celebrant, who touches the right and left ear and the closed lips of each with his thumb, saying:

“Ephphatha: that is, be opened,

that you may profess the faith you hear,

to the praise and glory of God.”

Image by Franciscan Voice