Daily Mass Readings for February 13, 2026

Liturgical Day: Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading: 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

Response: 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

Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.

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.”

Applying the Readings to Daily Life:

Today's readings emphasize listening to God's voice, the consequences of turning away, and the transformative power of opening our hearts to Jesus. The first reading shows the division of the kingdom due to Solomon's unfaithfulness, leading to rebellion.

The psalm calls us to heed God's voice and avoid strange gods, while the Alleluia urges open hearts to the Son's words. In the Gospel, Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment, commanding "Ephphatha!"—be opened—restoring his hearing and speech, symbolizing spiritual awakening.

Imagine Alex, a 40-year-old entrepreneur in Los Angeles, who built a successful startup but grew "deaf" to his faith amid the noise of business deals, networking events, and constant ambition. Like Israel's rebellion in the readings, Alex ignored God's gentle prompts—missing family dinners for work, skipping prayer, and prioritizing material success over spiritual growth. His relationships suffered; arguments with his spouse escalated, and he felt isolated despite his achievements.

One day, during a health scare with sudden hearing issues from stress, Alex attended a retreat on a whim. There, like the deaf man brought to Jesus, he encountered a priest who prayed over him, echoing "Ephphatha!" in a meditation. Alex felt a profound opening: he began listening actively in confession, mending ties with his family, and integrating faith into his daily routine. His business thrived more ethically, and he started mentoring young professionals on balancing ambition with God's voice.

In our bustling lives, especially in a city like LA with endless distractions, apply these readings by consciously "opening" your ears to God. Identify areas where you've become spiritually deaf—perhaps through overwork, social media overload, or grudges. Start with a simple practice: Like the Alleluia's call, spend 5 minutes in silence each morning listening to Scripture via an app or podcast.

If facing communication breakdowns at work or home, invoke "Ephphatha!" in prayer before conversations, seeking to truly hear others as God hears us. This fosters deeper connections, reduces conflicts, and aligns actions with divine guidance, turning potential rebellion into faithful obedience.